Question: is hsv 1 less contagious?
Answer: Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 is very contagious. You can spread the virus even when you don't have any symptoms of a cold sore, though you're usually most contagious when you have them. However, this is much less likely than if contact occurred when a cold sore was present.