section_path: Microbiology/Dormant and latent infections
section_name: Dormant and latent infections
paragraph_text: Dormant and latent infections
  
  Some viruses cause no apparent changes to the infected cell. Cells in which the virus is latent and inactive show few signs of infection and often function normally. This causes persistent infections and the virus is often dormant for many months or years. This is often the case with herpes viruses.