Is shingles contagious?

Answer by  One (83)

Yes, shingles are contagious. People who have a weak immune system, elderly, children, babies and people who haven't had chicken pox or measles should stay away from the infected person.

Answer by  DrMom (854)

Shingles can cause chickenpox in people who have never had chickenpox or been immunized. It is caused by herpes zoster, the chickenpox virus. However, you can not catch shingles.

Answer by  Sarah88 (24)

Yes, Shingles is contagious, in a sense. Shingles is caused when the dormant virus from the childhood disease chicken pox (varicella-zoster)become active again. After a child has the Chicken Pox the virus lies dormant in the nerve roots. It cannot cause someone to have shingles but the Chicken Pox Virus is very contagious. Shingles is most common in older people

Answer by  activeflux (20)

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is not normally contagious but causes blisters and a rash. If an individual with no immune resistance to the virus comes in contact with the rash or fluid from the blisters they may become infected. If infected shingles will not appear immediately.