The Ebola virus can remain in the semen of male survivors much longer than previously thought, and genomic analysis has confirmed that the disease can be sexually transmitted, a pair of studies published in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine have revealed.
According to BBC News and AFP reports, the first study found that 65 percent of men still had Ebola in their semen up to six months after infection, and that the virus’s genetic material could still be found in the sperm of 26 percent of them between seven and nine months later.
Previous research found the virus could only remain in semen for 82 days after the first symptoms and while the researchers said that they did not yet know whether or not testing positive meant that the men were infectious, the findings raised new concerns.
In the other study, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases scientists, along with colleagues from the Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research confirmed a suspected case of sexually-transmitted Ebola using genomic analysis, providing molecular evidence that it was passed from a male survivor of the disease to his female partner through intercourse.
Experts advising condom use to protect partners
Bruce Aylward, the World Health Organization’s special representative on the Ebola response, told AFP that the findings “come at a critically important time” and served as a reminded that “while Ebola case numbers continue to plummet, Ebola survivors and their families continue to struggle with the effects of the disease.”
Taken together, the two studies provide “evidence that survivors need continued, substantial support” for a period of at least six months, and that steps needed to be taken “to ensure their partners are not exposed to potential virus,” he added. Currently, an outbreak of Ebola can be declared over 42 days after the resolution of the last case, the WHO said, but in light of these findings, some experts are calling for that period to be extended to at least 90 days.
WHO director Margaret Chan and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Professor David Heymann both told BBC News that precautionary measures in the form of contraceptives should be taken by survivors in order to protect their partners. While the global health group also said that sexual transmission of Ebola from women to men is rare, but possible.
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