Herpes

/ˈhɜrpiːz/ noun

Definition

A viral infection that causes painful blisters and sores on the skin, spread through contact.

Etymology

From Greek "herpes" meaning creeping or crawling, describing how the infection spreads across skin. The Greek root relates to the serpent-like spread of the blisters.

Kelly Says

The herpes virus is so ancient that most human populations carry it—scientists believe it's been infecting humans for thousands of years, and the virus remains dormant in your nerve cells for life!

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