Final answer:
It is true that some infections can be asymptomatic, meaning that even when the microbe is active within the host, there may be no notable symptoms, as seen with individuals infected with the herpes simplex virus who often do not know they are carrying the virus.
Step-by-step explanation:
True: Some infections may indeed remain asymptomatic or subclinical with the microbe being active in the host. This means that the infection does not present any noticeable signs or symptoms. A common example is the herpes simplex virus, where most individuals infected remain asymptomatic and are unaware that they have been infected. In such cases, despite the active presence of the microbe, the immune system's response might not trigger visible symptoms.
Moreover, latent viruses can exist in a dormant state within the host without causing symptoms of disease, as seen with circular viral genome molecules or proviruses integrated into the host genome. During latency, the virus is difficult to detect without a viral diagnostic test. All these factors confirm that pathogens can remain in the host and be active without noticeable symptoms, thus making the statement true.