Modern herpes variants may be linked to bronze age kissing, study finds

Virus may have received a boost from rise of kissing that came with westward migrations 4,500 years ago

The herpes variants that cause modern cold sores became widespread in the wake of bronze age migrations, and may have received a boost from the practice of kissing that came with it, researchers say.

Scientists in Cambridge analysed the first ancient DNA specimens of herpes simplex virus and found that one variant overtook all others about 4,500 years ago, setting the course for its dominance today.