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Gregg Davis - 26 Aug 2004 06:14 GMT

My sister told me today that she has had a herpes rash on her hand and arm
for awhile. She says she's very contagious. Last week, when she knew she
was infected, she said she wanted to see my place and touched just about
every drawer, table, and photo album in my place. How long can the herpes
virus survive in its infectious form outside of the body? Do I have to
start throwing things out?

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Angela S. - 26 Aug 2004 12:02 GMT

> My sister told me today that she has had a herpes rash on her hand and arm
> for awhile.

How does your sister know that what she has on her hand and arm is a herpes
rash?
Was she tested specifically for herpes simplex virus?

> She says she's very contagious. Last week, when she knew she
> was infected, she said she wanted to see my place and touched just about
> every drawer, table, and photo album in my place. How long can the herpes
> virus survive in its infectious form outside of the body?

The herpes virus can not survive on objects.

> Do I have to
> start throwing things out?

Herpes is not a casual contact disease... it's a sexually transmitted
disease.
Have you read the Updated Herpes Handbook? I would suggest reading that -
especailly the part about transmisstion.

Angela

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Gregg Davis - 26 Aug 2004 13:11 GMT

"Angela S." <yoshi2me@zippety-doo-dah.com> wrote in

> How does your sister know that what she has on her hand and arm is a herpes
> rash?
> Was she tested specifically for herpes simplex virus?

All I know is that she went to a dermatologist had some tests done and is
now certain that the mysterious rash on her hand is herpes.

> The herpes virus can not survive on objects.
> Do I have to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Have you read the Updated Herpes Handbook? I would suggest reading that -
> especailly the part about transmisstion.

then why did her doctor tell her to walk around in public with rubber gloves
on? She doesn't wear these gloves often but she was told by her doctor to do
so because she is "very contagious."

Thanks, I'll read the handbook. Do you know how long it would take for the
symptoms of a herpes infection to manifest?

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M.L.S. - 26 Aug 2004 14:10 GMT

>"Angela S." <yoshi2me@zippety-doo-dah.com> wrote in

>> How does your sister know that what she has on her hand and arm is a
>herpes
>> rash?
>> Was she tested specifically for herpes simplex virus?

>All I know is that she went to a dermatologist had some tests done and is
>now certain that the mysterious rash on her hand is herpes.

>> The herpes virus can not survive on objects.
>> Do I have to
>> > start throwing things out?

>> Herpes is not a casual contact disease... it's a sexually transmitted
>> disease.
>> Have you read the Updated Herpes Handbook? I would suggest reading that -
>> especailly the part about transmisstion.

>then why did her doctor tell her to walk around in public with rubber gloves
>on? She doesn't wear these gloves often but she was told by her doctor to do
>so because she is "very contagious."

If she has lots of open sores, then the accidental touching of those
sores directly to another person could cause a transfer of the
disease.

>Thanks, I'll read the handbook. Do you know how long it would take for the
>symptoms of a herpes infection to manifest?

Anywhere from two to twenty days to never. Very many people never
experience any symptoms even though they are carriers.

Without direct skin to skin contact with an infected area it is very
unlikely that the disease can be transfered.

Take care,

Mike

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M.L.S. - 26 Aug 2004 14:06 GMT

>My sister told me today that she has had a herpes rash on her hand and arm
>for awhile. She says she's very contagious. Last week, when she knew she
>was infected, she said she wanted to see my place and touched just about
>every drawer, table, and photo album in my place. How long can the herpes
>virus survive in its infectious form outside of the body? Do I have to
>start throwing things out?

The virus doesn't survive outside the human body for any appreciable
length of time. You don't need to throw anything out.

If your sister rubbed an open sore on a counter edge and then you
directly rubbed your face on the same area, you *might* to be able
to give yourself a case of oral herpes, but it wouldn't be a
foregone conclusion that you would succeed.

Take care. Don't worry.

Mike

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