Is shingles contagious?
The virus that causes shingles can be transmitted from a person with active shingles to a person who is susceptible to infection with VZV (i.e., has not had chickenpox or has not had the chickenpox vaccine). The recipient (susceptible person) would develop chickenpox, not shingles. A person is contagious when the rash is in the blister phase; once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person in the prodromal phase or who has PHN is not contagious.
