Popularity of Beer Pong Leads to 230% Jump In Cold Sores

Beer Pong linked to herpes rise

Kathryn Foley, Collegian Staff
Published: Sunday, February 22, 2009

Matt Rocheleau / Collegian

Unsanitary conditions at many beer pong games on college campuses have
lead to an increase in the transmission of numerous illnesses and
viruses.

..Beer Pong – or to some, ....Beirut....
– is no doubt one of the most popular drinking games known on the
typical university campus. It is so prevalent that frequently, those
interested in playing a round have to sign their name on a “next up”
list in order to secure a place on the table. But the champions of the
table may be signing up for more than Friday night glory.......

For
those self-proclaimed “beer pong champs,” and for those who get in on
the fun less frequently, beware. Studies show the less drunk from those
red Solo cups, the better. According to the Center for Disease Control,
unprotected beer pong play is nearly as dangerous as unprotected sex.....

Little
do many Beirut players know, or at least … think to consider once
they’ve gotten their buzz, is that sharing these cups with partners and
others can lead to the transmission of a number of different illnesses
and viruses.....

The
well known and lingering, mononucleosis, the dreaded Influenza (the
flu) and the bad guy: herpes, are all possible to catch by playing a
simple game of beer pong. All of these are transferable via saliva by
sharing cups. Sure, the likelihood that it is caught is fairly slim,
but it is not impossible.....

The
infectious mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is
distinguished by symptoms including lack of energy, inflamed lymph
nodes, a severe sore throat and high fever. Many think that it is just
a “kissing disease,” but it is basically spread through any exchange of
infected saliva. This type of illness is to want to avoid at all costs
because it can leave the afflicted feeling weak and fatigued for weeks,
sometimes even months.....

As
soon as one gets over mono, the symptoms will be gone for good but the
virus that caused it will forever stay in the body. It can become
active from time to time without the presence of symptoms but may still
potentially be spread to others.....

Herpes
Simplex Virus-1 is one of the most common viral infections in the
world. It is also commonly referred to as cold sores, fever blisters or
oral herpes, which are small, painful blisters that most often will
appear on or around a person’s lips or in their mouths. The virus comes
into contact with broken skin or the lining of the mouth, and then
tries to reproduce itself. Even though cells are infected, most people
do not get symptoms. Many times, its replication process will destroy
the cells it has infected triggering the formation of blisters or
ulcers on the skin. ....

It
is estimated that nine out of 10 people have been exposed to HSV-1 and
do not even know it, and this is mostly because they are not
experiencing any of the symptoms. It can be caught merely by coming
into contact with an infected person, meaning the risk could be just as
high as getting mono or the common cold.....

The
balls played with have already been in countless people’s hands. It has
also bounced all over the floor, gotten stuck under the couch and has
been completely enveloped in dust bunnies and bacteria. ....

“My
problem is that when I play beer pong, it’s usually at guys’ houses who
probably have never, EVER dusted or cleaned all the grime that is all
over the place,” freshman theatre major Simone Shenny said.  “So when we throw the ball and miss the cup, it sometimes goes under the furniture and into disgusting corners.....

“When
we get it back, we’ll clean it in the same ‘clean water cup’ over and
over again so all that grime and dirt from the floor just goes into the
water cup. So, when the balls are thrown into the beer cups, all that
crap from the ball gets into the beer that you’re drinking.” ....

One
effortless and logical way to avoid catching one of these nasty
diseases is by simply playing with water cups instead of beer. The
Center for Disease control said reports of the virus are up 230-percent from 2007 in people ages 17 to 21, and it’s all from sharing cups. Filling the 10 cups with water is a suggested, but unpopular, solution. ....
“I
hate playing with water cups because it takes away from the spirit of
the game, but it probably is a lot healthier,” commented sophomore
communications major Zach Gordon.

uh, yeah... be careful!