Can you swim while you are having a herpes outbreak?

No, this is because the chlorine that is in a swimming pool is not sufficient enough to kill the Varicella virus that causes chicken pox.

People who still have sores from the disease should not get in a swimming pool or go to public swimming areas until all the sores have healed. It is an air born disease that can be spread in the air, also people who have a case of shingles which is caused by the same virus should not go in a pool with an outbreak.

It takes at least 15 days for all the sores to heal and be scabbed over and you should not go swimming until they have all healed completely, as the liquid in the soars carry the virus.