The Center For Disease Control has released alarming new test results that claim 48% of Black women between ages 14 and 49 have herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores.

The medical group released a press release Tuesday detailing their findings.

According to the CDC herpes is still one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States.

The study shows that women and Blacks are the most commonly infected with women at 20.5% and Blacks at 39.2%, nearly three times the rate of whites at 12.3%. Black women top everyone else's rates altogether at 48%.

Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, released a statement saying that the high rate of genital herpes is likely linked to the disproportionate HIV problem in the Black community.

"We are particularly concerned about persistent high rates of herpes among African-Americans, which is likely contributing to disproportionate rates of HIV in the black community."

The CDC also estimates that over 80 percent of those with HSV-2 are unaware of their infection.  Symptoms may be absent, mild, or mistaken for another condition. People with HSV-2 often transmit it without knowing it, they may have no visible sores or signs.

48%?

This is a real problem people.

Be safe out there and please get tested.