NZ - capital of the world for... herpes.

A campaign for the NZ Herpes Foundation sets out to fight the "stigma" & 'hurty feelings' associated with herpes. It’s a health campaign which doesn’t tell the inconvenient biological truths.

According to a report in both Radio NZ and the NZ Herald…

Sir Ashley Bloomfield… alongside Sir Graham Henry, Sir Buck Shelford, boxing champ Mea Motu, comedian Angella Dravid, Dame Sue Bagshaw and Real Housewives of Auckland star Anne Batley-Burton, he's fronting a campaign for the New Zealand Herpes Foundation, launching on Sunday.

The household names are teaming up to explain what herpes is, how common it is, whether you need to be worried or feel awkward about it, and how to help fight the stigma associated with the sexually transmitted infection (STI).

No longer STD. Disease sounds so… negative. Infection means it’s not your fault eh.

Up to 80 percent of New Zealanders will get genital or oral herpes at some stage in their lives, but research shows most of us are too afraid of judgement to talk about it.

80%. 80% of New Zealanders have an STD? Wow. Really?

But there’s different types – but we’ll come back to that, because that’s a significant point.

A survey conducted by researcher TRA on thousands of people around the world showed that more than a third of Kiwis believed they would be treated differently by their friends and family if it was known they had herpes.

“Believed”. It’s not really a measure about your hurty feelings or embarrassment, or possible consequences of your actions. 

That doesn’t mean you’ll be treated differently, does it. Maybe in your head.

That's despite the fact that 26.8 percent of women and 17.3 percent of men in New Zealand will have genital herpes by the time they're 38. However, more than 80 percent of people with herpes won't have any symptoms at all.

Hang on. First they said 80%, but now it’s down to 27% of females and 17% of men. But until they’re 38.

Something doesn’t smell right here.

Let me check. According to John Hopkins;

Herpes infections are very common. Fifty to 80 percent of American adults have oral herpes (HSV-1), which causes cold sores or fever blisters in or around the mouth. Genital herpes, caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2, affects one out of every six people in the U.S. age 14 to 49.

There’s the important distinction.

Oral herpes is most commonly caused by HSV-1 and can occur at any stage of life, including childhood. 

Genital herpes is spread almost exclusively through sex. In the United States, infections are mainly seen after age 19. 

So that’s quite a significant point, isn’t it.

When they say Up to 80 percent of New Zealanders will get genital or oral herpes, they’re correct. But the causes – and the consequences – are very different.

But they’re out to muddy all of that.

Back to Radio NZ and our NZ “campaign”…

[Sir Ashley] Bloomfield says the shame associated with herpes could have a "profound" psychological impact on many and can leave people feeling isolated.

"The problem is not people, the problem is the virus. And we need to focus on the virus rather than making people feel bad about the fact they've had an infection," he says.

"Thirty percent of all Kiwis diagnosed with the herpes virus experience depressive or suicidal thoughts. This is a problem we can solve, which is pretty rare these days. Let's make New Zealand the best place in the world to have herpes."

Now note - what Mr Bloomfield doesn’t say is whether he can prove the depression and suicide is from the STD.

….The Herpes Foundation's Alaina Luxmoore - who got herpes herself in her late 30s - says that for most people, the shame of having herpes is worse than the symptoms of the virus itself.

"Every day we speak with people dealing with feelings of shame, self-loathing, and social isolation. People who are finding their sex lives and dating lives disrupted. And for what? Not from any physical impact from the infection, but from the shame and stigma that we as a society associate with this diagnosis," she says.

No physical impact. Nope – it’s that nasty stigma. You know – the hurty feelings.

So let’s do a little fact check.

I hopped on to the John Hopkins Medicine website and found this:

In the United States, about 1 in every 6 people ages 14 to 49 have genital herpes.

So now we’re down to 17% - not the 27% of females as this campaign is suggesting, and remember the 80% includes all forms of herpes including… cold sores that even kids can get. Yes.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV I and HSV II. HSV I commonly causes oral herpes, or cold sores. This virus can show up as an upper respiratory tract infection during early childhood. HSV II is the cause of most cases of genital herpes. However, it is possible for HSV I to cause genital herpes and HSV II to cause oral herpes.

Here’s the key bit.

What causes genital herpes?

You can catch genital herpes by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the disease.

So a sexually transmitted disease.

… How does genital herpes spread?

Herpes can be spread when an infected person has lesions — blisters and open sores — on their body or when you do not have any symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine can help you reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes to your sexual partners. 

How common is genital herpes?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 40 million to 50 million adults in the United States have genital herpes. HSV II infection is more common in women and in people who have had more than five sexual partners. 

Yes – more than five sexual partners.

And do you think the stigma and the depression might just be a result of sexual promiscuity and the consequences? Just maybe?

I also checked out the CDC which is the US’s version of the Ministry of Health here in NZ.

The CDC say:

Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. This is known as having an "outbreak". The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, body aches, or swollen glands) also may occur during the first outbreak.

But didn’t the Herpes Foundation say there was no physical impact? Just the nasty stigma and hurty feelings?

Prevention

How can I prevent genital herpes?

The only way to completely avoid STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting genital herpes:

• Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who does not have herpes.

• Using condoms the right way every time you have sex.

Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that a condom can cover. 

The site also warns (and this hints at why the stigma against STDs might be important)

I'm pregnant. If I have genital herpes, how can I protect my baby from getting it?

If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, prenatal care visits are very important. Some research suggest that a genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage or make it more likely to deliver your baby too early. You can pass herpes to your unborn child before birth, but it more commonly passes during delivery. This can lead to a deadly infection in your baby (called neonatal herpes). It is important that you avoid getting genital herpes during pregnancy. 

And further down it warns – and this points to why people who are diagnosed with herpes might be depressed and anxious – and it has nothing to do with stigma or telling other people to be nicer!

Can I still have sex if I have herpes?

If you have herpes, you should talk to your sex partner(s) about their risk. Using condoms may help lower this risk but it will not get rid of the risk completely.

It’s actually about a 30% lower risk only – according to a 2009 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Having sores or other symptoms of herpes can increase your risk of spreading the disease. Even if you do not have any symptoms, you can still infect your sex partners.

You may have concerns about how genital herpes will impact your health, sex life, and relationships. 

And there it is. The concern – the anxiety – the depression and even the suicide ideation is because of the impact on a person’s own life. They’ve had a devastating diagnosis.

So what is the campaign here in New Zealand.

“Make NZ the best place in the world to have herpes.”

Yep – I kid you not. Let’s make New Zealand the capital of the world for STDs.

Perhaps we could add AIDS and Gonorrhoea to the list. Let’s give that a clap as well.

And syphilis.

Oh wait we seem to already be doing well at that. This recent Stuff article says that

There was a 41%​ increase in cases of syphilis in Aotearoa in the second half of last year, sparking concern about the potential life-threatening impact on unborn babies.

ESR’s data showed the rise in cases in late 2022 was largely among men, with men who have sex with men recording an 81%​ increase between the first (January 1–March 31) and fourth quarters (October 1–December 31).

There was also a spike in cases among men who have sex with women: with a 76%​ increase seen between the first and fourth quarters of the year.

The Ministry of Health said eliminating syphilis is one of the key aims of the Syphilis Action Plan.

Yes we have a Syphilis Action Plan.

Other goals include arresting the recent increases, eliminating ethnic inequities, and reducing suffering and poor health outcomes for people infected with syphilis, it said.

Repeat after me. It’s not their fault. It’s because of white people and colonisation.

Anyway, back to Herpes.

Here’s the promo for making NZ the best place in the world to have herpes.

Now before we do the course together, I checked the website to find out where the “30% of all Kiwis diagnosed with the herpes virus experience depressive or suicidal thoughts.” The source was… the NZ Herpes Foundation.

OK – solid stuff. Do you feel depressed that you have an STD? Yep? Tick.

So first lesson – what is herpes. With Sir Ashley Bloomfield.

That wasn’t only weird – it was sort-of creepy as well.

Good that there was positive medical advice about avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, not having multiple sex partners, being monogamous, don’t rely on condoms because they’re not 100% effective at preventing spread of the virus – you know, good health advice.

No - I didn’t see it either.

Then “How common is herpes?” with Anne Batley-Burton. Yeah I hadn’t heard of her either. Apparently she’s on Real Housewives of Auckland. Yeah – I hadn’t heard of that either.

Apparently this is supposed to be taken seriously. That’s what Radio NZ and the NZ Herald said.

Next is Sir Buck Shelford – is herpes scary?

Could I just remind you - If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, a genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage. You can pass herpes to your unborn child before birth, but it more commonly passes during delivery. This can lead to a deadly infection in your baby. Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. This is known as having an "outbreak". The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, body aches, or swollen glands) also may occur during the first outbreak.

Uh Buck – yeah that sounds scary.

Having fun, team?

Lesson 4. Out of 5.

How not to make herpes awkward. With some comedian Angella Dravid.

And remember - STD is just a “skin condition”. Apparently.

It’s only weird if we make it weird. It’s not the whole campaign that’s weird. It’s not even JD Vance that’s weird. It’s just weird if we are a bit concerned about getting an STD.

And finally (!!) thank goodness

Someone called Mea Motu. How to fight stigma. The stigma is worse than the virus

Yes the stigma is worse than the painful sores, blisters, swollen glands

OK – that was real painful eh.

What’s more painful is that you paid for this. Yes – it’s funded by Te Whatu Ora. In other words, you!

They also have this youth-focused “educational video” on their website.

Please be warned. It’s offensive. But it really highlights what this campaign is about.

Promoting, normalising, destigmatising sexual promiscuity.

Remember what Bloomfield said in the campaign?

Bloomfield says the shame associated with herpes could have a "profound" psychological impact on many and can leave people feeling isolated. "The problem is not people, the problem is the virus. And we need to focus on the virus rather than making people feel bad about the fact they've had an infection," he says. "Thirty percent of all Kiwis diagnosed with the herpes virus experience depressive or suicidal thoughts.

It’s your fault.

But on their own website it says this

Actually it does discriminate. The CDC says that HSV II infection is more common in women and in people who have had more than five sexual partners. 

The worst part about this dumb misleading campaign – except for the marketing which is almost embarrassing – is that it fails to tell the truth.

You’ll have noticed that there’s no mention of the ‘nasty’ stuff that I quoted from the CDC and John Hopkins.

This campaign is just dumb fluff.

Getting herpes is just like getting a zit.

Dr Miriam Grossman who was the one decent medical professional with common sense on the “What is a Woman” documentary by DailyWire wrote a report for us 10 years ago on the misleading nature of sex education in schools around the concept of safe sex said this:

Sexuality educators do not describe the complex psychological issues that often follow the diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection. Research indicates, however, that they can be substantial, especially when the infection is with an incurable virus such as HPV or herpes.

… Other research indicates that episodic outbreaks of herpes – most people have at least three to four outbreaks per year – can cause people to feel less sexually desirable, and reduce their enjoyment and frequency of sexual contact. It can cause a ‘major negative impact on quality of life’, greater than the impact of asthma or rheumatoid arthritis.

She concludes, and this is key, and this is primarily for younger people, but remember that this atrocious and dumb campaign will reach young people….

Is every young person going to postpone sex? Of course not. But we are still obligated to inform them of the grave risks they face, to teach them biological truths about their physical and emotional vulnerabilities, to warn them in a no-nonsense manner about avoiding high risk behaviours, and to encourage the highest standard. That is what we do in every other area of healthcare. But when it comes to sexuality, kids are being taught they can play with fire – and the waiting rooms of doctors and therapists are filled with people who’ve been burned, inside and out.

It will require straight talk with all the sobering facts. We are fighting a war against a horde of bugs, we should explain to students, and the bugs are winning.  Sure, sex is great, but it’s an appetite, and just like all appetites, it must be restrained. You have urges, and they are healthy urges – but it is not healthy for you to act on them, not at this time in your lives.

We must make teens understand that sex is a very serious matter and that a single encounter can change their lives forever. Our message must be consistent and firm: the only responsible choice is to delay sexual behaviour until adulthood. We must provide students with an ideal to strive for, one that offers them the healthiest option physically and emotionally. The healthiest ideal is to postpone sexual activity until adulthood and, ideally, until marriage.

Of course, students must be told it’s not easily achieved. Reaching that ideal isn’t easy, of course, and this fact should be acknowledged. But just as in other areas of education, where the ideal is presented as the point of excellence towards which we encourage young people to strive, the same holds true with our sexual activity and choices. Keeping the ideal in front of young people and supporting them in achieving it should be the first priority of sexual education programmes.

Adolescents look to adults for authoritative guidance. It is our responsibility to do precisely that – guide them with authority, firm rules, and high expectations. That is not accomplished by telling them “only you know when you’re ready”.  When we provide that message, we fail young people. When we teach them to rely on latex, we fail again.

The rates of disease and distress are soaring. The stakes are high. Will we respond to the crisis with honesty, authority, and courage? That is the question.

Just finally, there was one other name mentioned in the campaign but we didn’t see a video from her.

It was Sue Bagshaw. A champion of abortion and of puberty blockers and transing children. She wrongly argues that puberty blockers are lifesavers. In fact, in 2022 Otago University removed claims by Dame Sue Bagshaw in regards to bone density recovery after puberty blockers from its website due to inaccuracies. She argues that kids – yes, kids know exactly what they want.

Have a watch of this earlier McBLOG.

In summary, this is yet another campaign about removing the natural consequences and stigma associated with sexually related diseases and outcomes.

It’s a health campaign which doesn’t tell the inconvenient truths. And health advice should always be based on biological truth, prevention and treatment – not hurty feelings.

If I was Sir Graham Henry or Sir Buck Shelford, I’d be asking for my money back.