Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Dr. Kim Mulvihill Reporting One out of four American women is infected with genital herpes. But there is an experimental vaccine that researchers hope will prevent this incurable infection.
Herpes can cause painful blisters and sores on the mouth, the genitals or the rectum. But the vast majority of Americans don't even know they're infected.
Sarah McKay/ Quest Women's Clinic: "It can be microscopic. It can be undectectable in terms of symptoms. But you can still be contagious at that time."
More women than men are infected with herpes. For them, tiny genital lesions are a gateway for HIV. An infected woman who's pregnant can also pass the virus to her fetus.
The baby can suffer serious brain, skin or eye damage, even die.
While there is no cure for genital herpes, a new experimental vaccine might protect women against the virus, and it's being tested in the Bay Area.
Suzannah Patterson/ Investigational Drug Volunteer: "I'm just very curious and a scientist at nature, so I couldn't resist"
Pharmacist Suzannah Patterson volunteered for the investigational vaccine study. But to qualify, Suzannah first had to get a blood test to confirm she did not have oral or genital herpes.
Of the 800 women who wanted to volunteer, 600 were already infected.
Sarah: "Typically it is shock and how did this happen? I didn't know this. How did I not know this? You would think that if you had herpes you would know it but I think that's a myth."
Researchers hope the investigational vaccine will stimulate an immune response and protect women against genital herpes.
Suzannah says getting the shot is not painful.
Suzannah: "Just a little soreness on the day you get the vaccine. And from what I hear, it's a lot more tolerable than having a herpes outbreak."
The vaccine does not use a live virus. So you would not contract herpes from it.
