Herpes simplex virus

Herpes simplex viruses
TEM micrograph of virions of a herpes simplex virus species
Scientific classification
(unranked):	Virus
Realm:	Duplodnaviria
Kingdom:	Heunggongvirae
Phylum:	Peploviricota
Class:	Herviviricetes
Order:	Herpesvirales
Family:	Orthoherpesviridae
Subfamily:	Alphaherpesvirinae
Genus:	Simplexvirus
Groups included
Human alphaherpesvirus 1 Human alphaherpesvirus 2
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa
All other Simplexvirus sp.: Ateline alphaherpesvirus 1 Bovine alphaherpesvirus 2 Cercopithecine alphaherpesvirus 2 Leporid alphaherpesvirus 4 Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 Macacine alphaherpesvirus 2 Macacine alphaherpesvirus 3 Macropodid alphaherpesvirus 1 Macropodid alphaherpesvirus 2 Macropodid alphaherpesvirus 4 Panine alphaherpesvirus 3 Papiine alphaherpesvirus 2 Pteropodid alphaherpesvirus 1 Pteropodid alphaherpesvirus 2 Saimiriine alphaherpesvirus 1

Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), also known by their taxonomic names Human alphaherpesvirus 1 and Human alphaherpesvirus 2, are two members of the human Herpesviridae family, a set of viruses that produce viral infections in the majority of humans.^[1][2] Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are very common and contagious. They can be spread when an infected person begins shedding the virus.

As of 2016, about 67% of the world population under the age of 50 had HSV-1.^[3] In the United States, about 47.8% and 11.9% are estimated to have HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively, though actual prevalence may be much higher.^[4] Because it can be transmitted through any intimate contact, it is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.^[5]