Shingles are common. They are indeed cause by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox. Those who have been exposed to the virus commonly retain dormant virus in the nervous tissue. This dormant virus can be reactivated years later by a variety of triggers, the most common triggers being stress or immune suppression from some other cause. This usually happens in the 6th or 7th decade of life but can happen to younger people as well. It is possible to pass on the virus from exposed areas of the shingles rash, but cases of this are very rare. Most individuals in the US have been exposed to or immunized against this virus therefore have little to worry about. Those that are not immune could develop chickenpox from the virus.
This replication cycle is common to most herpes viruses and is similar to what happens with the herpes virus that causes cold sores as well. The virus is dormant in the nerves for a period of time then is reactivated by some trigger. You can pass the virus to another individual by exposure to an open infected sore.
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