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Is Shingles Contagious By Direct Contact With The Area Of Rash Or Blisters?

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Posted on Fri, 13 Sep 2013
Question: Is shingles contagious at all after the blisters have scabbed over and is it only contagious by direct contact with the area of rash or blisters?
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Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (55 minutes later)
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Brief answer...the blisters of shingles are contagious.
Detailed answer...
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus but shingles can not be passed from one person to another person,however this virus can be spread to other person who has never had any chickenpox.
In this situation person can develop chickenpox and not shingles.
The virus is spread by direct contact with fluid from the blister and not by any other way like sneezing or coughing or by even by a casual contact.
The person having blister is not infectious before the appearance of blisters or once the crusts formation takes place.
If this shingles blisters are covered,the risk of the virus spreading becomes very low.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 6704 Questions

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Is Shingles Contagious By Direct Contact With The Area Of Rash Or Blisters?

Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Brief answer...the blisters of shingles are contagious.
Detailed answer...
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus but shingles can not be passed from one person to another person,however this virus can be spread to other person who has never had any chickenpox.
In this situation person can develop chickenpox and not shingles.
The virus is spread by direct contact with fluid from the blister and not by any other way like sneezing or coughing or by even by a casual contact.
The person having blister is not infectious before the appearance of blisters or once the crusts formation takes place.
If this shingles blisters are covered,the risk of the virus spreading becomes very low.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks