Herpes is generally a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes zoster virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that herpes is a fairly common disease and affects one out of every six people ages 14 to 49. There are a few ways that the virus can be transmitted without sexual contact.
Sexual Contact
The most common cause of becoming infected with herpes is through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex. The virus is most likely to be transmitted when there is an open sore, but Planned Parenthood and the CDC indicate that the virus can shed and infect others even when there is not an open sore. Kissing someone with sores in or around the mouth can also lead to infection.
To keep the virus from spreading, sexual contact should be avoided completely when symptoms are felt and protection such as a latex barrier should be used during all sexual contact.
Self Contact
Planned Parenthood states that transmission of the virus can also occur through skin to skin contact; touching open wounds on the body and then touching another area of the skin can transfer the infection to a new area. Wash hands after touching an open sore and make sure not to use saliva on contact lenses with an oral herpes infection. The areas of skin that are most likely to become infected are moist areas such as the mucus membranes in the mouth, the whites of the eye, the moist membranes of the female genitals and the membranes along the anus. Any other area of skin can become infected, especially if there is an open wound on the skin, but generally the skin itself forms a barrier of protection.
Mother to Child
In rare occasions, Planned Parenthood says an infected mother can infect her baby by giving vaginal birth. The baby's skin can come in direct contact with the infected area of the mother during delivery. Routine testing of expectant mothers for these types of viruses is done; if infection is detected, a cesarean section is performed to prevent the spread of infection to the newborn.
