Herpes genitalis in a student population.

Increased reporting of genital herpes has led to claims in the lay press of an epidemic of herpes genitalis. In a study at Queen's University Student Health Service during a nine-month period, a first diagnosis of genital herpes was made in 5.9/1,000 students attending the clinic. Excluding those patients with recurrent illness by history, the incidence of genital herpes was 4.5/1,000. Recovery of the virus was successful in 91 percent of attempted cultures. Complications were low. Genital herpes is an important sexually transmitted disease in the student population, but claims of an epidemic are exaggerated.