Human Papillomavirus: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Standards

Overview

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most common sexually transmitted infection. Although the majority of infections do not cause illness, persistent infection can result in disease. HPV infection is a necessary cause of cervical cancer, which usually does not occur until decades after infection.

The majority of cervical cancers and other HPV-associated cancers are caused by HPV types 16 or 18. In 2012, there were an estimated 266 000 HPV-related cervical cancer deaths in women worldwide (1); > 85% of these deaths occurred in less developed countries. Cervical cancers comprise 84% of all HPV-related cancers worldwide. HPV can also lead to other anogenital cancers (vagina, vulva, penis and anus) and oropharyngeal cancers (head and neck). In addition, HPV can cause anogenital warts, though the HPV types that cause genital warts are different from those that cause cancers.