RITM0155490: Longitudinal analysis of trends in herpes simplex virus infection in England.
The aim of this research is to identify trends in herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections over time, by type (HSV-1 or HSV-2), by age-group, site of infection and geographical region in England.
About the project:
What the project aims to do
This research aims to identify trends in herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections over time, by type (HSV-1 or HSV2), by age-group, site of infection and geographical region in England.
To achieve this, we will::
- track how herpes infections have changed over the last 20 years—across types (HSV-1 or HSV-2), where on the body the infection appears, ages, and places within England
- calculate if the number of cases might be going up, especially in babies
- understand who is most at risk of herpes infections
Why this project is important
This study looks at herpes, a virus that can be passed from one person to another, usually during close contact like kissing or sex. There are two main types: HSV-1 (which often causes cold sores) and HSV-2 (which usually causes genital herpes). Herpes is very common in adults. Most of the time it’s not a big problem, but if a baby gets herpes, it can be very serious or even life-threatening. Babies can catch it before birth, during birth, or shortly after. In the UK and across Europe, the number of babies getting herpes has been rising over the past 20 years. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust aren’t sure if this is related to changes in herpes infections in adults, so they want to learn more about how herpes infections have changed over time.
Who the data is about
The data covers all patients who were living in England with confirmed HSV infection reported to the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) between 01 January 2004 and 31 December 2024 (inclusive).
How the data will be used
All hospitals in England report lab test results for herpes to the UKHSA on an electronic system ‘Second Generation Surveillance System’. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust will look at lab test results for herpes from hospitals in England from 2004 to 2024. These test results are collected by UKHSA to track diseases. UKHSA will remove names and personal information from the data before they give it to University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust will then look at how the herpes lab test results have changed over time. They will study things like:
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the type of herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2)
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where the infection showed up (like mouth, skin, or private parts)
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age of the person
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sex of the person
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when and where the infection happened
They will use software to make graphs and charts to identify patterns in herpes over time.
How often data is needed
One-off release.
How this project will benefit public health and the public
By understanding how herpes spreads and who are most at risk, researchers can plan for better treatments or vaccines in the future, create educational materials for people and doctors, and raise awareness about herpes.
Planned project outputs and communication
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peer reviewed scientific journals
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conference presentation
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educational resources for healthcare workers, people with herpes and the public
Lawful processing of personal and special category personal data
The data needed for this project is not personal data.
Legal basis for using personal data (Article 6):
Not applicable.
Legal basis for using special category personal data (Article 9):
Not applicable.
Common law duty of confidentiality
The data needed for this project is not confidential patient information.
How is the duty of confidentiality set aside:
Not applicable
National Data Opt-Out
Will opt-out preferences be applied?
No
Where ‘No’, why:
The National Data Opt-Out does not apply to anonymised data.
Digital Object Identifier:
Not available at time of approval.