Facts on Contagious Herpes

Both of the conditions caused by herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), cold sores and genital herpes, are communicable (able to be transmitted to other people). There are, however, steps you can take to minimize this risk.

Identification

• HSV-1 is the virus that causes most cases of oral herpes (cold sores), whereas HSV-2 causes most cases of genital herpes. However, either virus can cause either condition, through oral-to-genital or genital-to-oral contact.

Cold Sores

• The cold-sore virus, HSV-1, is transmitted primarily through direct skin contact with an active cold sore, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes the virus can be transmitted to other parts of the body, such as the finger (a condition known as "herpes whitlow").

Genital Herpes

• The virus that causes genital herpes is caused by direct contact with genital herpes sores or through contact with affected skin even in the absence of an outbreak, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Features

• People with herpetic conditions are most infectious (able to pass on the virus to others) during an active outbreak, although transmission is possible without active symptoms.

Considerations

• It is also possible to transmit either virus through sharing articles that have touched sores.

Prevention

• Avoiding skin contact and not sharing articles with someone with an active outbreak is an effective method of preventing transmission. Condoms can be used to reduce the risk for genital herpes transmission, but the virus can still be transmitted through skin that is not covered by a condom.