How is Herpes Spread

The herpes virus is an infection that most people, who have it, are not even aware they carry until they see certain symptoms such as sores and ulcers. The most common of the herpes infection is the kind that appears on the face, around and on the mouth area. Most people do not even realize that, what is referred to as a cold sore is actually a full blown herpes outbreak. The herpes virus, even when a person is not having an outbreak or showing physical symptoms of herpes, is contagious and fairly easy to transfer and infect others. Fortunately the worst of the symptoms can be controlled through prescribed medication.

The herpes virus is spread through any direct contact with the virus. Touching or kissing any infected area of someone's body, any form of sexual contact, or if one had facial herpes (cold sores) and where to share a glass, lipstick, drinking straw or a cigarette with another it would undoubtedly spread the virus. Kissing a person that has been infected can transfer the virus from whatever part of the body that was kissed to the mouth, inside and out, or even the throat. Unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind, be it vaginal or anal, can transfer the virus if one person has genital herpes (also known as the clap), it can even be spread to multiple parts of the body this way. Facial herpes is the most commonly spread form of herpes because of the location the virus has infected. Orally sharing an item or kiss with an infected person showing symptoms is a sure way to obtain the virus, so being careful about who you share a drink or cigarette with is actually just looking out for number one.

The virus is not picky about where it dwells. As long as it is a warm and somewhat moist or humid area it can thrive and multiply. This means that facial herpes or cold sores are not only transferable to another person's mouth, but they can be transferred to anywhere that comes in contact with the infected person's mouth. The virus can also be transferred by touch of hands. Say someone with a breakout of facial herpes was to wipe their mouth with their hand then shake hands with another person. The virus has now been applied to the other person's hand. Now if the person that obtained the virus on their hand where to rub a piece of dirt out of their eye with the infected hand, they would have a very good possibility of infecting their eye with the herpes virus.

That was just an example of how easily it can be transferred, by accident, from one host to another. Washing your hands and practicing protected sex is a good way to keep from obtaining the herpes virus. A huge part of the prevention of the spread of herpes also lay in the responsibility and caution of infected people carrying the virus, especially during an outbreak.