What exactly is "herpes"?

Herpes is a virus that can spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. It can appear on many different areas of the body and is typically marked by an eruption of a cluster of blisters, although some people show very mild or no symptoms at all.

How many herpes viruses are there? How many herpes viruses are there?

There are many different "herpes" viruses. Human members of this group of viruses include

1. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (responsible for cold sores and genital herpes)
2. Varicella- zoster virus
3. Epstein- Barr virus
4. Human cytomegalovirus,
5. and, the recently discovered Human herpes virus

The herpes viruses are also widespread throughout the animal kingdom involving simians, cattle, cats, chicken, etc. Of these, only herpes virus simiae is harmful to man.

Conditions caused by the herpes virus group