A GADGET called Virulite invented by two North-East doctors could be the answer to a growing public health menace, it was claimed last night.

The virus, which causes the common cold sore, is relatively harmless as long as it is confined to the mouth.

But new research suggests that young people are passing on the virus through sex, resulting in more young women developing genital herpes.

Genital herpes can be dangerous during childbirth - some gynaecologists even recommend Caesarian section rather than risking the baby coming into contact with infected tissue.

The research by Dr Frances Cowan, of the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, concludes that cold sores are increasingly the cause of genital herpes and "strongly associated" with youngsters having sex at an early age.

Dr Cowan's research is based on blood samples and details of sexual behaviour from 869 people attending a London sexual health clinic, and from 1,494 blood donors.

She found that while the proportion of genital herpes caused by the cold sore virus (Herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1) was rising in the UK, childhood acquisition of the virus is falling.

Several UK centres report that the cold sore virus is now the most common cause of genital herpes in young women.

Peterlee GP Dr Gordon Dougal, who has developed the revolutionary hand-held machine with eye surgeon Jim Haslam from Darlington Memorial Hospital, predicted that Virulite could dramatically cut the spread of the virus.

Dr Cowan said she was unfamiliar with Virulite but considered an anti-viral vaccine to be the best way forward.

For more information about Virulite ring 0800 0523939.