The public health imperative for a neonatal herpes simplex virus infection surveillance system.
About 1 in 5 sexually active adults in the United States has serologic evidence of genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type-2. Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection is a serious consequence of genital herpes infection. Herpes infection in neonates causes significant morbidity and neurologic damage and generally has a case-fatality ratio untreated of 60%. It is estimated that 440 to 1,320 cases of neonatal herpes infections occur in the United States per year (11-33 cases occur per 100,000 live births). Given the challenges in surveillance for genital herpes due to the large number of asymptomatic infections and infrequent laboratory-based diagnosis, we recommend that to begin an effective national control program for herpes infections, a mandatory national surveillance system for neonatal herpes be implemented. Such a system would help assure appropriate therapy, help monitor trends and understand the burden of disease, identify risk determinants, and evaluate prevention efforts.
Donoval
Betty A
BA
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. bdonov2@uic.edu
Passaro
Douglas J
DJ
Klausner
Jeffrey D
JD
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States