Zoster, also called herpes zoster or shingles, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Zoster (shingles) cannot be passed from one person to another.  However, the virus that causes shingles, VZV, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox through direct contact with the rash.  The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles.  The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. A person with shingles can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase.  Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.  A person is not infectious before blisters appear or with post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone).