Reactivation of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in asymptomatic seropositive persons

Many patients infected with genital herpes can transmit the virus to another person even if they have no visible lesions or any other symptoms. Researchers tested genital fluids from 143 people whose blood tested positive for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). Ninety had symptoms of genital herpes and 53 did not. Three percent of both groups were shedding the virus in genital fluids. Sixty-two percent of the asymptomatic patients subsequently developed genital herpes lesions.