OVER 530 cancer cases are caused by HPV infections with 180 people dying in Ireland each year, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.
But only 62 per cent are aware that HPV can cause cancer, research by Ipsos B&A on behalf of MSD Ireland revealed.
Over a quarter of Irish people admitted that they don’t know how HPV is spread from person to person.
HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex, even if the infected person doesn’t have any signs or symptoms.
Most HPV infections clear naturally within two years.
But infections that don’t clear naturally can lead to certain HPV-related diseases, such as genital warts, anal cancer, and cervical cancer.
Even though most people will be infected with a form of HPV in their lifetime, the new research shows 76 per cent of people think that it is unlikely that they have ever had HPV in their lifetime.
While only four per cent of people can correctly identify that HPV is extremely common.
Almost half of those surveyed are not aware that HPV can cause genital warts in males and females.
The research comes as Ireland announces its goal to eliminate HPV-related cervical cancer by 2040.
In November 2023, Minister Stephen Donnelly announced Ireland’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
Only 34 per cent of people said they have no awareness that vaccines may help prevent certain types of cancers.
Averil Power, CEO at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “Around 400 people are diagnosed with HPV-caused cancers, including cervical cancer, every year in Ireland.
“We welcome the Minister for Health’s announcement last November of Ireland’s strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
“As well as working to eliminate cervical cancer, we should also be aiming to significantly reduce all HPV-related cancers in both women and men.
“To do this we need to increase the levels of public awareness of HPV—what it is, how common it is, how it can be transmitted—and on the uptake of the HPV vaccination.”
She explained the HPV vaccine saves lives and urges everyone eligible to take up this vaccine when offered.
Assistant Director of Nursing Services at the Marie Keating Foundation Bernie Carter said: “Most cases of Cervical Cancer are caused by HPV, short for Human Papillomavirus, which is a very common virus.
“In fact, HPV is so common, that most sexually active men and women will have the virus at some point in their lives, which means that many of us will have it without even knowing we’ve had it.
“For most of us, our bodies will naturally resolve the issue over time, but for others, it can cause complications such as genital warts and even certain cancers in both men and women.
“It’s incredible to think that we can prevent this from happening, and by focusing on building awareness of the virus alongside a focus on prevention, screening and treatment, we can eliminate a disease like cervical cancer.”