Can you get herpes by shaking someone's hand who just went to the bathroom (touched his crotch, has symptoms)? does it matter if he washed his hands or not?

Any skin-to-skin contact with infected tissue can result in transmission of the virus, even if there is no visible evidence of the infection. Once one has the herpes virus, it persists and can be transmitted most readily by oral, vaginal or anal sexual contact. Washing well is important, and an alcohol-based hand gel can help kill bacteria and viruses on the skin.