How Herpes Was Discovered

Several virus strains have been isolated through Herpes simplex virus research. These viruses were only discovered recently. Herpes has been known to exist since the Hellenic era, when Hippocrates was the best medicine man around and the Greeks call it "Herpes" which means to crawl--an apt description of the nature of HSV.

Only after Vidal has discovered it that Herpes became a major medical concern. Research has begun during the 20th century. Several viruses such as Varicella-Zoster Virus (associated with chickenpox), Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus have been associated with it.