Herpes is an "enveloped virus" with a fragile viral membrane. It is sensitive to drying out, and because of this, it cannot be contracted from a toilet seat or other hard, dry surfaces. The University of South Carolina reports that the herpes virus spreads from person to person through contact with mucosal surfaces, such as the oral and genital regions, or through body secretions, including saliva.
Contact
A number of the eight types of herpes virus known to infect humans can be acquired through contact. Contact does not necessarily mean sexual activity, though that is certainly one route of transmission. Mayo Clinic reports that certain types of herpes, including herpes simplex virus type 1, can be transferred when sharing a razor or towel with an infected person. Herpes simplex virus type 2 most often causes genital herpes. Herpes.org reports that 22 percent of American adults have HSV-2, but 2/3 of those infected do not even know they have the disease. Contact with an infected person is not always obvious because the virus can be transmitted even without an active lesion.
Saliva
The herpes virus can spread through saliva. The American Social Health Association reports that as many as 50 to 80 percent of American adults have contracted oral herpes. Most do not know they have contracted the disease and can innocently pass it on. Herpes.org indicates that approximately 100 million Americans have contacted oral herpes during childhood. Pediatric Dental Health places the initial age of acquisition of the oral herpes virus between 6 months and 3 years of age. Kissing an infected individual is a common form of acquisition. Mouthing and playing with infected toys are common ways the disease spreads among children.
Self-Inoculation
When a person acquires herpes, the virus remains in the body forever. It usually lies dormant and if there are any outbreaks, over time, the number of and severity of the outbreaks decrease. A person who does not know he has been infected by the virus can transmit the virus from one body part to another through two means. One means is by picking up the virus from one area and physically transferring it to another, for instance touching the genital area and then touching the face. According to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the University of Illinois Medical Center, another way the virus is spread throughout the body is through neural pathways. A person may have contracted HSV-1, the cause of most oral herpes infections, for instance, through kissing. The virus may later travel along the neural pathways to the eye, causing ocular herpes.
