Justin is an unlucky soul who got Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) from his girlfriend in junior high. Now he is a carrier for HSV-1 and anytime he experiences high levels of stress, he develops cold sores. Even so, hes been able to avoid giving HSV-1 to his wife (his only partner for the past 15 years), by not sharing food/drinks, kissing, or engaging in oral sex while he has a cold sore. How is it possible that Justin has HSV-1 but his wife doesnt? Using what you know about latent and productive infections, explain how this could be possible.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

It is possible for Justin to have HSV1 while his wife does not due to the nature of the virus and th... View the full answer