From [a website]: [deleted]

I would like to know more about why herpes is so common. Is the high percentage of people with herpes due mostly to asymptomatic shedding? Does that mean that for HSV1 for example if you kiss on any given day there's a 1/10 chance of being exposed to herpes, even if there are no symptoms?

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If the risk of transmission is so low as long as contact is avoided while there are symptoms, how do so many people have herpes (20% for hsv2 and over 50% for hsv1)?