Can you be stuck with a herpes virus?

Yes, herpes viruses can cause chronic infections in humans, and once infected, the virus can remain in the body for the rest of a person's life. Herpes viruses establish latent infections, where the virus hides within nerve cells and can periodically reactivate, leading to recurrent outbreaks of symptoms. Examples include herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes oral herpes or cold sores, and herpes zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox and shingles.