Herpes From High School Wrestling Is The Least Fun Way To Get Herpes We Can Think Of

We all know you can catch various strains of herpes through public toilets and water fountains and, of course sex, but we never really thought about high school wrestling. That’s the issue raised by Harvard Health Men’s Watch columnist Harvey Simon today.

HSV-1 [cold sore herpes] is extremely common. By adolescence, about a third of all kids harbor the virus and by maturity, the number is over two-thirds.

In January 2007, the entire high school wrestling program throughout the state of Minnesota was suspended after 24 wrestlers from 10 schools developed herpes gladiatorum.

In case you’re wondering what that is, it’s mat herpes. Charming. The article does say the problem is not common enough to keep kids away from the sport. Presumably there’s no risk of spreading HSV-2, genital herpes, the STD, through this sort of wrestling. Still, uh, gross.
Herpes and teen athletes [AMNY]