Viral Disease & Host defence

Transmission

Genital herpes can be transmitted with or without the presence of sores or other symptoms, and is often transmitted by people who are unaware that they are infected.

Transmission of Oral Herpes



Oral herpes (usually HSV-1) has been detected in both the saliva and blood of patients with active oral infections. It is most likely to occur during preschool years. Oral herpes is easily spread by direct exposure to saliva or even from droplets in breath. Skin contact with infected areas is sufficient to spread it. Transmission most often occurs through close personal contact, such as kissing. In addition, because HSV-1 can be passed in saliva, people should also avoid sharing toothbrushes or eating utensils with an infected person.


Transmission of Genital Herpes


Genital herpes is most often transmitted through sexual activity, and people with multiple sexual partners are at high risk. HSV, however, can also enter through the anus, skin, and other areas.
People with active symptoms of genital herpes are at very high risk for transmitting the infection. Unfortunately, evidence suggests about one-third of all HSV-2 infections occur during times when the virus is shedding but producing no symptoms. In addition, only about 10 - 25% of people who carry HSV-2 actually know that they have the infection. In other words, most people either have no symptoms or don't recognize them when they appear.


Herpes can be spread by any of the following real-life situations:

• Kissing someone if you have a cold sore can transfer the virus to any part of the body that you kiss them (including inside of the mouth and throat, or the genitals)
• The virus can be transmitted to your partner if you have active genital herpes and have vaginal or anal intercourse.
• If you have a cold sore and put your mouth on your partner's genitals (oral sex), your partner can be infected with genital herpes. Consequently, oral sex should definitely be avoided if one partner has a facial herpes attack.
• People who experience an episode of herpes, either facial or genital, should consider themselves infectious from the first sign of an outbreak to the healing of the last ulcer.
• Occasionally, one partner in a long-term relationship may develop symptoms of herpes for the first time. Often this is due to one or both of the partners being asymptomatic carriers of HSV and not knowing it.
• A mother can pass the virus onto her baby during pregnancy or at birth.
• One kind of complication involves spreading the virus from the location of an outbreak to other places on the body by touching the sore(s). The fingers, eyes, and other body areas can accidentally become infected in this way. Preventing self-infection is simple. Do not touch the area during an outbreak. If you do, wash your hands as soon as possible with soap and warm water.
• Reports have been sited of possible transmission via 'Hot tubs" but there is scientific skepticism as to whether or not the virus can be transmitted via inanimate objects such as toilet seats.
• It is generally considered that the spreading of genital herpes through inanimate objects, such as soap, towels, clothing, bed sheets, toilet seats, and spa surfaces is highly unlikely because the herpes virus cannot live very long outside of the body.