An estimated 16 % of U.S. adults are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 ( HSV-2 ) Some people with herpes take antiviral drugs for years , while others just use them periodically -- for example , when they 're starting a new relationship or anticipating a high-pressure situation . Some people will shed the virus more frequently , while others will shed it less often . The most common way to get a new infection is through sexual contact or by having an open wound that has been scratched and then touched again.
An estimated 16 % of U.S. adults are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 ( HSV-2 ) Some people will shed the virus more frequently , while others will shed it less often . The most common way to get a new infection is through sexual contact or by having an open wound that has been scratched and then touched again.