Does everyone have the herpes virus?

No, not everyone has the herpes virus. There are two main types of herpes viruses: herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). HSV can cause cold sores or genital herpes, while VZV can cause chickenpox and shingles. While these viruses are highly contagious and many people are exposed to them at some point, not everyone who is exposed will develop an infection. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 67% of the global population under 50 years old has HSV-1, and 11% have HSV-2. For VZV, approximately 95% of adults in the United States have had chickenpox, and about 1 in 3 adults will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime.