Transmission

VIDEO ON ASYMPTOMATIC SHEDDING HERE: • Asymptomatic Shedding
BASHH GUIDELINES: bashh.org/guidelines
HVA WEBSITE: herpes.org.uk/
DONATE: herpes.org.uk/donate/
Herpes simplex virus (HSV types 1 and 2) is passed directly from the affected area of skin (which could be the genitals, face or hands), by direct skin to skin contact, when the virus is present, with friction. It then may appear at the place the virus was rubbed in. So if it is caught genitally, It does not travel up through the body and appear on the face. This video was created by the Herpes Viruses Association to educate and inform.
Asymptomatic shedding sometimes happens but is not likely. When the virus is inactive (dormant) inside the nerve cells it cannot be caught by a partner. If there is virus on the skin surface where you get your symptoms, it may be passed on.
Before the outbreak begins, there may be a tingly or itchy feeling at the place where this will happen. This means that diagnosed people are less likely to pass it on when there is nothing to see on the skin, because they are usually more aware of these prodromes (the warning feelings). Whereas undiagnosed people often ignore highly infectious and obvious symptoms, because they do not know what they are. This is not “asymptomatic” as you can feel something and you should not have sex at this time.
Asymptomatic shedding means “without sensation” and a scientific test can virus on the skin when the person feels nothing. This applies to type 2. Type 1 doesn’t ‘like’ the genital region and is less likely to recur and to shed asymptomatically. This happens only in some people, mostly in the first six months. After a year or two, if a person is not having many outbreaks, they will rarely have virus on the skin without symptoms.