Are shingles infectious?

[pericat]

I am seeing a friend and her husband tonight but my friend mentioned in passing that her husband has just been diagnosed as having shingles. I know I am "run down" at the moment and really don't want to risk shingles. Am I taking a chance seeing them?

It is contagious, but not directly as shingles. The underlying chickenpox virus is contagious while someone actually has shingles.

www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html

Depends if the sores are still oozing, and where they are. If they are u der clothes, then no, you wouldn’t catch them. If on the face, and being touched frequently and the virus transferred onto cups, chairs etc if they aren’t washing their hands, maybe.

It's contagious but the virus would give you chicken pox. If you've had chicken pox you are unlikely to get it a second time, though it is possible.

Chances of virus passing from him to you are low especially if you avoid direct contact.

My son caught chicken pox from my husband's shingles (which were on his scalp, so not covered by clothing). Ds had been vaccinated for chicken pox (it's part of the vaccine schedule here) so it was relatively mild for him.

When the rashes are still there they are possibly contagious. Once the rashes develop crusts, they are no longer contagious. Better you stay a bit away from him.

It's not possible to catch shingles from someone with the condition or from someone with chickenpox.
However, you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven't had chickenpox before, but this is uncommon.
The blisters of shingles contain live virus. If a person who has never had chickenpox makes direct contact with an open blister or something with the fluid on it, they can contract the virus and develop chickenpox.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/#is-shingles-contagious

As long as he doesn't rub his blisters and then put his fingers in your mouth you'll be ok.

Thank you all (especially Viva!). I had chicken pox as a child so should be fine.