# The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes

> A herpes charity campaign reported 22 million PR impressions.

- Owner: New Zealand Herpes Foundation; Motion Sickness (agency)
- Kind: Campaign
- Sector: Health & fitness
- Seed date: 2024-10-13
- Peak date: Week of Oct 20, 2024
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 27 (Niche, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Transgression, Underdog, Platform jump, Press loop, Newsjacking

## Summary

The foundation launched a celebrity-fronted course and leaderboard on Global Herpes Awareness Day. Ads, donated placements and press carried it beyond its audience. It announced first place in December and reported 22 million PR impressions; Cannes awards followed.

## Timeline

- 2024-10-13 — New Zealand Herpes Foundation (TikTok) — The foundation launched its celebrity course and TikTok film on Global Herpes Awareness Day.
- 2024-10-13 — NZ Herald (Press) — The Herald interviewed boxer Mea Motu about cold sores for its launch coverage.
- 2024-10-13 — ABC News (TV) — ABC broadcast coverage of the campaign and its celebrity presenters.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/new-zealand-best-place-to-have-herpes

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes.” Case HIS-00714. Spread Score v1.2: 27/100. Updated 2026-10-14. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00714