How is herpes spread?

Herpes is spread by direct skin to skin contact. Unlike a flu virus that you can get through the air, herpes spreads by direct contact, that is, directly from the site of infection to the site of contact. For example, if you have a cold sore and kiss someone, you can transfer the virus to their mouth. Similarly, if you have active genital herpes and have vaginal or anal intercourse, you can give your partner genital herpes. Finally, if you have a cold sore and put your mouth on your partners genitals (oral sex), you can give your partner genital herpes.

Direct contact with the live virus including: 

Any direct contact with an herpes infection
Kissing, touching or caressing actively infected areas
Sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal sex)
Cold sores or mouth herpes can be spread by sharing the same drinking glass, lipstick, cigarette, etc. How do you get Herpes?

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. Click here for more information.

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.

How Is Genital Herpes Spread?

.