Oral Herpes Non Sexual Tranmission

1) What are chances of getting Oral Herpes (type not know yet) from ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN close personal contact (Kissing,Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Naked Rub etc).
  a) Is these chances remain same in a 3rd world country.

2)Is there any statistics of Oral Herpes Transmission by sharing utensils (taking a bite from some body else's fork or sipping coffee from the same cup etc), sharing towel, bed clothing or close contact (like in public transportation e.g. buses, trains etc)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

HSV transmission requires direct contact with someone else's herpes lesion or sore (even though that sore can be asymptomatic).  The only ways that happens are kissing, sex, and exposure of babies to infected mothers during delivery.  Saliva contact among small children (e.g., as toys go rapidly from mouth to mouth, say in daycare settings) probably accounts for many infections in children.  There probably is a theoretical risk through sharing eating utensils, glasses, etc, but if those things occur, it is very rare.  It is not possible to get infected through towels, bed clothes, toilet seats, or sitting next to someone on a bus.  There is no difference in transmission routes in developing versus industrialized countries.

No ongoing discussion, please.  Oral herpes isn't generally sexually transmitted, so not pertinent to an STD forum.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[estrellab]

From what I have always hear, no, no chance. Needs to be intimate contact.

[pbnb]

I have a follow on question, can it be spread by coughing, sneezing etc..

[t1234]

You can get oral herpes from casual contact kissing etc.  Normally
it is HSV-1 what grandma called fever blisters.  Often people
get it in childhood before they become sexually active.

It's no big deal and can even serve to boast the immune system
(some studies show the body uses HSV-1 to fight certain
cancers)

[gracefromHHP]

No - herpes is not transmitted thru sneezing and coughing like the common cold is.

grace