herpes virus vs herpes

herpes virus and herpes both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
herpes virus	Yes	No	No	No
herpes	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, herpes virus and herpes are synonyms defined as:

herpes virus and herpes: any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin

herpes virus (noun)	herpes (noun)
any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin	any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin
	viral diseases causing eruptions of the skin or mucous membrane