HPV Surge in China: A Call for Prevention Amidst High Infection Rates Among Young Adults
In China, HPV virus has once again surged to the forefront of public attention with a recent tweet reminding people that the peak time for HPV infection is between 20 and 40 years old. This comes as doctors advise that preventing HPV infection can be achieved through three main strategies: practicing chaste and healthy sexual habits, strengthening physical exercise, and immunity improvement. Although men can also get vaccinated like women, the tweet from Zhengzhou, Henan Province tells a story of a man in his twenties who caught HPV viruses after his girlfriend was found to have the virus. The doctor explained that HPV is typically transmitted through sexual behavior, but some spread indirectly through common items.
2 December 2023
Another tweet from a study suggests that hotel items can be infected with HPV, leading to a buzz on social media about whether staying in hotels increases the risk of infection. While it's true that HPV can be transmitted through shared objects, proper hygiene and precautions can minimize this risk. It's important to note that whether an individual has oral herpes is determined by whether their partner carries the HPV virus. Therefore, unless a person can ensure that their partner has no sexual experience whatsoever and their first and only sexual experience is with them, there's a chance of infection.
To highlight the importance of being vaccinated against HPV, a thread of tweets provided eight questions and answers about why it's crucial to protect oneself from this virus. One of these tweets mentions that if the reporter had a daughter, they would teach her about sex and relationships every day to help her avoid risks and protect herself.
According to recent research published in The Lancet Oncology, nearly one-third of men aged 15 or older worldwide are infected with at least one genital HPV subtype, and approximately one-fifth have at least one high-risk or carcinogenic HPV subtype. This research also reveals that the most common HPV subtypes detected were HPV-16 and HPV-6, indicating that HPV infection is quite prevalent among men and particularly among younger individuals.
As it's World AIDS Day, it's essential to remember another common sexually transmitted disease (STD) - HPV. Similar to HIV, preventing both HPV and AIDS primarily involves practicing good personal hygiene and safety measures. As HPV is a type of human papilloma virus with over 150 different strains, its primary mode of transmission is through sexual contact (vaginal, anal or oral) with an infected person.
In conclusion, it's crucial to understand the importance of HPV prevention and vaccination for both men and women. The tweets from China bring attention to this issue by highlighting the prevalence of HPV infection among individuals aged 20-40 years old and providing advice on how to lower the