Survivors can transmit virus through sex, but not sweat or saliva – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined that Ebola survivors might transmit the virus through sexual activity if it persists of their semen after restoration. In distinction, survivors who’ve met the factors for discharge from remedy are not anticipated to transmit the virus through sweat or saliva.

Patrick Otim, programme space supervisor for emergency response on the WHO Regional Office for Africa, defined this in a video answering questions concerning the virus.

Mr Otim mentioned male survivors ought to obtain counselling on safer intercourse practices and entry to condoms after discharge from remedy centres. He mentioned they need to endure common semen testing till they get hold of two consecutive unfavorable outcomes.

“Ebola virus after recovery and for patients with what we call a viral persistence can be transmitted through sexual intercourse,” he mentioned.

He defined that the virus might stay in sure elements of the physique after medical restoration, posing a threat of transmission through contaminated semen.

The WHO recommends that male survivors practise safer intercourse for 12 months within the absence of a semen-testing programme. Where testing is obtainable, they need to endure common testing till two consecutive unfavorable outcomes are obtained.

Sweat and saliva

Mr Otim mentioned survivors who had recovered and been discharged from remedy centres might not transmit the virus through sweat or saliva as a result of the virus would have been cleared from their blood.

He mentioned sufferers have been required to have two unfavorable blood exams earlier than discharge, including that survivors who had met the discharge standards might not transmit the virus through these fluids.

READ ALSO: Ebola: WHO expresses hope as instances surpass 10,000, deaths close to 5,000 in DRC

However, he warned that individuals who have been nonetheless actively ailing might transmit Ebola through sweat and different bodily fluids.

Outbreak raises considerations

The rationalization comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya.

Nigeria confirmed an imported case on 20 October. The affected person, a 42-year-old Ugandan-born girl dwelling in Abuja, was evacuated to Switzerland together with her husband on 26 October.

Although the WHO mentioned Nigeria had no lively confirmed instances after the evacuation, well being authorities continued monitoring contacts and implementing containment measures.

In the DRC, the outbreak has recorded 10,060 confirmed instances and 4,887 deaths, based on figures launched on Tuesday by the nation’s Ministry of Public Health.