(ANSA) – ROME – Over 90% of adults over 50 have already contracted the virus that causes Shingles, Herpes Zoster, which remains latent in the organism; 1 in 3 adults will develop it in their lifetime. A survey conducted by Ipsos Mori in various countries of the world on 2,509 people, however, shows that on average only 7% believe they are at high risk in the next 10 years.
This is also why Gsk in collaboration with the International Federation on Aging (Ipa) launches Shingles Awareness Week online until March 6: the first international week of awareness about Herpes Zoster to inform about the risks, even in frail patients. In our country, the initiative has the patronage of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SitI) and of Cittadinanzattiva. “The risk of St. Anthony’s Fire is here” is the theme chosen for the first edition. The goal of Shingles Awareness Week is to increase understanding of the impact of Shingles Zoster and help overcome commonplaces. Three main “myths” to dispel: “I will not take it”, “I have a healthy lifestyle”, “I have already had Shingles in the past”.
“The pandemic situation – notes Antonio Ferro, President of Siti – has overwhelmed the world population and fragile patients are the ones who are paying the highest price. If on the one hand they have had access to preferential lanes for the anti SARS-CoV-2 vaccination , on the other hand, they have suffered the slowdown of routine vaccinations, recommended by the National Vaccine Prevention Plan, with particular reference to that against Herpes Zoster. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people with diabetes, HIV, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, respiratory and metabolic diseases which risk further compromising the quality of life due to the Shingles and its consequences “. (HANDLE).
breaking latest news © Copyright ANSA
