Final answer:
Herpes and chickenpox viruses are known to cause latent infections, where the pathogen lies dormant for long periods and can reactivate later under certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best-known examples of viruses that cause latent infections are herpes and chickenpox.
In latent diseases, the pathogen goes dormant for extended periods without active replication. Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox, are examples of viruses that can reside in a latent form within the cells of the nervous system. These viruses can later reactivate, causing episodes of their respective diseases during periods of stress and immunosuppression.