What is herpes?

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Herpes is a common, recurrent infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), of which there are two subtypes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause blisters and ulcers on the mouth, face and genitals, or around the anus. It is passed from person to person by kissing, or by having saliva-to-skin contact, skin-to-skin contact, or skin-to-lesion contact. Once a person is infected with herpes, he or she remains affected for life. However, the virus often remains "latent" and does not cause symptoms for long periods of time.