Transmission

Shingles is an infectious disease. In general, the most likely form of transmission is direct contact with an open skin sore on an infected person. Transmission occurs only from an infected to an uninfected person. And interestingly, that person will develop chickenpox, not shingles. Therefore you should try not to let anyone else, particularly children, come into contact with the affected areas. Shingles can't be transmitted to a person who has had chickenpox. People who are at the greatest risk for contracting shingles (or herpes zoster infection) are young infants and individuals who have illnesses that have reduced the infection-fighting abilities of the immune system. Once the skin has healed, there is no further risk of spreading the infection to others.