4 ms·
Herpes wasn't considered a disease at the time. It was not pathologized until later.
by 1jojojo 9y ago
Herpes wasn't considered a disease at the time. It was not pathologized until later.
- astura 9y agoThis is more or less true. The pharmacy company Burroughs Wellcome is largely blamed for pathologizing "genital herpes" starting in the late 70s. https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/ypa8nb/did-big-pharma-create-the-herpes-stigma-for-profit https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/ypa8nb/did-big-pharma...
- refurb 9y agoWait a second. With heroes you get painful, oozing sores on your genitals. It sometimes never goes away and can flare up at any time. Does it really take a company to make people think of it as a disease? "Oh my penis feels like it's on fire and oozing all over me. However, I wouldn't call it a disease."
- yoklov 9y agoAIUI it wasn’t considered a disease similar to how cold sores aren’t.
- Fomite 9y agoAnd HPV wasn't linked with cervical cancer yet - that doesn't mean it wasn't a disease. And I'm comfortable calling HSV-2 a disease based on the potential congenital consequences alone. It's certainly a manageable one, and the stigma around it is silly, but if the common cold is a disease, then herpes is.