Here is some herpes info: Herpes is a shorthand reference to a herpes simplex virus infection. There are two strains of the herpes simplex virus: herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2. Herpes simplex 1 typically causes oral herpes but can, in rare cases, cause genital herpes. Herpes simplex 2 typically causes genital herpes, but can, in rare cases, cause oral herpes. As a rule, herpes simplex 1 does not thrive below the waist, and herpes simplex 2 does not thrive above the waist. A person cannot become infected with herpes simplex 1 or herpes simplex 2 more than once: antibodies prevent reinfection, and prevent an infection from being spread to other parts of one's body. A herpes simplex infection does not always present symptoms, but when it does symptoms are typically an outbreak of blisters: this is true whether one has oral or genital herpes. A herpes simplex infection is not a threat to one's overall health, the only possible exceptions being infection in infants and in people with seriously compromised immune systems. Herpes simplex is spread through skin-to-skin contact.