Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that affect moist lining in your body and your skin. There are approximately 14 million people including teens that are infected with this disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a very common infection that affects one out of four people in the United States.
Just recently, the number of young girls who are getting vaccinated against HPV have decreased, but statistics revealed a very desirable result. Refinery 29 reported that in 2014, at least 40 percent of girls were not vaccinated against the infection, even though it is highly recommended that girls aging 11 or 12 until 26 should take the vaccine. A new study revealed that there is a significant decrease in the number of HPV cases since the vaccine was introduced.
"We are continuing to see decreases in the HPV types that are targeted by the vaccine," lead researcher Dr. Lauri Markowitz said, a medical epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decline in the number of HPV types means that there will also be a significant decrease in the number of cancers caused by HPV, specifically cervical, head, and neck cancer, in the future.
In an interview with the US News, Dr. Markowitz also said that they have already noticed a decrease in the number of genital warts cases. They are hoping that the next decline will be seen in pre-cancer cases, and hopefully a dramatic decline in cancer cases in the near future.
However, although the findings are very promising, the researchers still think that the number of young people who get vaccinated is not enough. There is only 42 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys aging between 13 and 17 years old who complete the recommended 3 dose of vaccine.
"We could see greater declines in HPV-related disease if we had greater coverage," Markowitz said. "A very large percentage of cervical cancers could be prevented by the vaccine."
Video Credit: youtube.com/Doc Mike Evans
