The World Health Organisation (WHO) Wednesday defined that Ebola survivors might transmit the virus via sexual activity if it persists of their semen after restoration.
In distinction, survivors who’ve met the factors for discharge from therapy should not anticipated to transmit the virus via sweat or saliva.
Patrick Otim, programme space supervisor for emergency response on the WHO Regional Office for Africa, acknowledged this in a video whereas answering questions in regards to the virus.
Otim stated male survivors ought to obtain counselling on safer intercourse practices and entry to condoms after discharge from therapy centres. He added that they need to bear common semen testing till they get hold of two consecutive unfavourable outcomes.
“Ebola virus after recovery and for patients with what we call a viral persistence can be transmitted through sexual intercourse,” he stated.
He acknowledged that the virus might stay in sure components of the physique after medical restoration, posing a threat of transmission via 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 out there, they need to bear common testing till two consecutive unfavourable outcomes are obtained.
Otim stated survivors who had recovered and been discharged from therapy centres couldn’t transmit the virus via sweat or saliva as a result of the virus would have been cleared from their blood.
