Transmitting Herpes from sharing food?

My boyfriend's sister has herpes. Is it possible for him to get it from sharing a spoon/cup with her?

[preciousmoi]

yes, that is possible. similarly mono can be shared through sharing straws. Herpes also may be. Of course, this would be oral herpes, not genital herpes

[gracefromHHP]

Actually as adults oral herpes even is very unlikely to be transmitted thru sharing a drink or food.  It's almost always thru romantic type kisses that oral herpes is transmitted once you are past puberty.

Genital herpes is transmitted thru direct skin on skin contact with the genital area.  No contact with the genital area, no risk of infection.

grace

[kem1984]

If it is true that oral herpes can't be spread through a straw or eating utensil then please explain to me how my 4 year old family member got it. Was it from birth or is he making out with someone who's infected. His mother has never shown signs of the infection but his aunt has. Explain plz, i'm confused

[petal130]

Your question sounded like you were talking about adult to adult transmission. You never specified that it was a 4 year old in question.

Yes, children can get it through sharing food/utensils. Many of us who have it as adults got it in childhood, and not from "making out" (good grief that's ridiculous to insinuate of a 4 year old!), but from friendly kisses from loved ones and in some instances from shared utensils/food.

If he had got it at birth, he would have become very ill and most likely had to have been hospitalized.

Lastly, about 60% of the adult population has oral herpes, it's incredibly common and by the time we get to the old folks home, it's close to 90%.
Most folks (his mother or other relatives included) don't even know they have oral herpes, only about 30% of people who have it ever get obvious cold sores to know.

You can read more about oral herpes here:
http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm