We all know herpes, the famous "cold sore". But herpes is so much more than this and linked to many other conditions (blindness, Alzheimer, HIV, neonatal herpes). Having herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) is very common. 3.4 billion people have HSV-1 and 500 million have HSV-2 (WHO figures). 

Herpes, it's a kiss given with love to a baby which may be deadly to him, like with the baby boy of Chazelle Craig who died a few days after his birth (watch her heartbreaking campaigning testimonial What's in a kiss). Neonatal herpes, it's roughly 40 babies a  day who have it...  Herpes, it's thinking your life is over when you catch genital herpes. 750 million people have it and yet there is no cure. It's thinking that you're "dirty" or "worthless", just like this young mother, Shana Shingleton (watch her brave testimonial Herpes Advocate). Herpes, it's 1.5 million people every year developing an ocular herpes, 40,000 of them becoming visually impaired or blind every year... HSV-1 is the main cause of blindness in Western countries... Herpes is so easily to catch that a simple touch, a simple kiss is enough. Even having safe and protected fun doesn't prevent contamination. You can get it or pass it on without any visible signs (it's called asymptomatic viral shedding). 

Right now, there are at least 5 candidate vaccines. 5 possible cures to this plague that herpes is. Help us - and yourself - and request leaders of the world to fast-track them all THIS YEAR! Support and sign this petition to put an end to this virus and its inhuman consequences. 

1. WHAT DOES THE VIRUS DO?

While these viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are extremely common and not deadly themselves, they do have some serious complications, such as:

- a higher risk of getting HIV in case of genital herpes, especially with HSV-2 which increases this risk between 2 and 3 times (HSV-2 is linked to HIV acquisition in 20% of the cases in the US up to almost 40% in Africa, see below WHO publication in the point 2);

- blindness in case of ocular herpes (HSV-1 is the main reason of becoming blind in developed countries);

- a bigger risk to develop Alzheimer (HSV-1 is suspected of playing a part in the development of Alzheimer);

- and, of course, the risk of passing on the virus to a newborn, either during the delivery or by a simple kiss (neonatal herpes), which can be deadly to newborns. 

In addition to this, HSV has an enormous impact on the mental health and well-being of many people, in particular if the virus affects the genitals. Between the stigma, fear of rejection and fear of passing on the virus, both HSV impact negatively the life of hundreds of millions of people around the globe.

Despite the huge consequences of those viruses, there are still no cure available. Hiding in the nervous system, herpes is a virus which cannot be flushed out of the body. Those of us who have HSV-1 or HSV-2 can only take some medications, either natural or produced by pharmaceutical companies, the latter having some serious side effects on the body (e.g. increased risk of kidney failure) and both being expensive in the long-run.

That's why the WHO has raised the alarm on this matter and recently issued a plea for having a vaccine as soon as possible !

2. WHY SIGNING THIS PETITION IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE?

Either you have it or not (knowing that most people are asymptomatic you may already have it and don't know that), having a vaccine against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 will mean:

- Supporting Women's Rights who usually have more painful outbreaks, have an even higher risk of catching HIV than men in addition to concerns about passing on the virus while giving birth, when every woman should keep the possibility to give birth naturally and not through c-section;

- Supporting the fight against HIV, especially in countries where both at are very high levels. According to WHO WHO, in Africa roughly 40% of HIV infections are correlated to HSV-2, 21% in the Americas and around 12% in the rest of the world;

- Helping and supporting the fight against sexual and racial inequalities. While not being a discrimination as such, black people and gay people are more likely to have or catch herpes viruses, in any country around the globe (for Black people in the US (link) or for gay people, e.g. here on gay women (link);

- Supporting the fight against dementia / Alzheimer. We all expect a life as long as possible, so obviously we're all concerned. HSV-1 is now suspected of playing a key role in the development of dementia / Alzheimer (link); and

- Last but not least, helping hundreds of millions of people to have their life back. As herpes can be painfully recurrent and appear anywhere on the body, this creates a prejudicial discomfort and diminishes the quality of life for 50% of all human beings. And let's not forget that herpes really does appear anywhere from head to toe: lips, private parts, eyes, fingers and also on the toes... Yes, the toes...! It's called herpetic whitlow and is due to HSV-1 or HSV-2. That means, if on the finger, it can be passed on anywhere by a simple touch (on the lips, eyes, genitals...).

For all those reasons and surely many others, WE NEED A CURE NOW!

3. THE REQUEST TO THE EU AND US LEADERS

We need to remind our leaders and decision makers that this issue is extremely important, for both the mental and physical health of half of Humankind and that they should address this issue now. We also need to remind them that solutions are already existing or being developed and that fast-tracking them will give results i) soon and ii) at no cost for them!

THEY SHOULD AND CAN ACT ON THIS, NOW AND AT NO COST!

That's why this petition aims at requesting from the US and EU leaders to fasten the development and/or to fast-track the HSV-1 and HSV-2 vaccines being currently under development or tested (Phase 1/2) for us to have them very soon and not in 10 years or so!

These vaccines are mostly:

- The HSV-529 by Sanofi (soon in Phase 2);

- The R2 and the RVx-201 HSV-2 being developed by Rational Vaccines. The latter, formerly known as Theravax, does give great results! There could already be a vaccine available to 500 million people! This vaccine, having already been tested and administered to human beings could definitely be fast-tracked!;

- The gene therapy/vaccine being developed by Dr Jerome at the Fred Hutchinson center (which uses the mRNA technique and suppresses up to 90% of the virus!); and

- The gene therapy/vaccine being developed by Dr Friedman at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with BioNTech (which uses the mRNA technique and suppresses up to 90% of the virus!).

All these vaccines could bring an end to the stigma and pain of having HSV and will also help other fights like against HIV and dementia. 

Considering what has been done for the Covid-19 vaccines and how many governments pushed for them to be developed quickly, fast-tracked and available to the general public, the same could be applied to the various vaccines being developed for HSV-1 and/or HSV-2! And that won't even cost them a dime!

By signing this petition, you will make sure that the FDA in the US, the MHRA in the UK and the EMA in the EU will FAST-TRACK those vaccines, paving the way for other regulators in the world. You will help yourself and many others to get yours and their life back on track, mothers to be able to deliver their babies (without the necessity to go through a cesarian) and avoid the spread of HSV.

Those vaccines already exist or are much advanced. Giving them the last push comes at no cost and will do such good to humankind. Please help yourself and help many others and sign this petition. 

Thanks a lot for your support in this fight!

#herpesvaccines2021 #HSVfreeworld 

Other petitions:

- Please also see the petition petition launched by Herpes Cure Research on HSV-259 being developed by Sanofi and feel free to sign it as well! 

- Please also see the petition petition launched by Rich Mancuso on Theravax / RVx-201 HSV-2 being developed by Rational Vaccines and feel free to sign it as well! See also his testimonial on this vaccine here! 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FEEL FREE TO SHARE!