What is herpes? How to use in English

The word "herpes" is derived from the ancient Greek word ἕρπης (herpēs), meaning "creeping" or "crawling". This is a reference to the characteristic clusters of blisters that form along the skin during an outbreak caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus itself was first described in the 20th century by two dermatologists, J. Opie and R. T. Glinkle, who coined the term "herpes simplex" in recognition of its recurrent and breaking out (herpetic) nature. Since then, the word "herpes" has come to designate any of several viral infections that cause similar symptoms, including herpes zoster (shingles), caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), and herpes B, which is a rarely occurring but serious infection caused by the simian herpesvirus B (SHVB) and typically affects immunocompromised individuals who have been in close contact with certain primates, such as macaques and baboons. These viruses all belong to the same family of viruses called the herpesviridae, which are known for their ability to cause persistent infections and establish latency in the host's nervous system, leading to periodic outbreaks as a result of reactivation.