A co worker has herpes, he's always scratching and touching things, can I c!
Question: A co worker has herpes, he's always scratching and touching things, can I catch herpes from him?
When he uses the employee restroom there is always speckles of blood left on toilet.
I am beside myself. I sanitize the door knobs, light switches, keys, register, adding machine etc. after he has touched them. I clean the bathroom before I use it at work.
He said he is on medicine but why is he always scratching?
Answers:
First of all the herpes simplex virus is not a bloodborne pathogen. Meaning that it is not found in blood or any other bodily fluid. The virus is extremely fragile and cannot live outside of the body for long periods of time. Although the virus has been documented to live up to 4 hours on a wet towel, the environmental conditions would have to be nearly perfect for the virus to live that long outside of the body.
My suggestion to you would be to tell your employer about your co-worker's lack of personal hygiene. Just because herpes is not transmitted by blood and body fluid doesn't mean other nasty viruses don't. You have a right to a safe work environment and your employer must maintain it.
NO the herpes virus doesn't last for more then seconds after leaving the body and it's not passed through blood. It's passed through having skin contact with an open sore or blister. If he is taking medication regularly that should make him less likely to pass it on.
Unless you kiss him, have intercourse or oral sex with him you're not likely to contract the virus by the ways you described.
Some people have itching even when they take the medication or it could be out of habit.
nasty..
he should be more clean also. you should get a job else where.