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How Is Herpes Transmitted?

Posted on Thu, 5 Mar 2015

Question: I went to a store and swiped my card yesterday, and looks like the guy who did the billing had herpes sore on his lips, pimple on his lips. He touched my card and I took it and when went back to my car I wiped it off with hand sanitizer and used to clean my hands too. Today I mistakenly touched the corner of my card in my mouth and I am worried if I will get infected by Herpes.... could you please help me guide me?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
There is no possibility of acquiring herpes

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing again to us.

I have taken note of your query and I have understood it.

Herpes virus cannot survive outside body/ on dried surfaces for more than a few seconds.
Therefore, there is no risk of you acquiring herpes from this particular act.

The virus is only transmitted by direct/ close/ intimate contact with an infected partner.
Forms of Intimate contact that risk transmission of herpes includes kissing, peno-vaginal, oral or anal forms of sexual contact.

Regatrds

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar