Experts have cautioned that the semen of a male, who is getting over an Ebola virus infection, remains a body fluid from which Ebola virus disease may be contracted for a period of seven-weeks afterwards.
The European fact sheet for health professionals, the Public Health Agency of Canada Pathogen Safety data sheet indicated a period of seven weeks.
Also, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Medical Managements of Biological Casualties Handbook (seventh edition) stated that such a patient should give at least 80 days for avoidance of sexual relations.
Although convalescent patients from Ebola virus infection are discharged before seven-weeks have elapsed, researchers pointed out that the men need to be made aware of this risk.
The body’s recommendation was based on studies carried out on a group of convalescent Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) patients and their Household Contacts (HHCs).
In 1999 study, which was documented in the Journal of Infectious Disease, the researchers obtained the blood and other body fluids specimens of convalescents and information on their symptom.
The blood specimens of their HHCs were also obtained. Test carried out found evidence of Ebola virus in the semen specimens of the convalescents up to 91 days after disease onset; however, these and all other non-blood body fluids tested negative by virus isolation.
It declared: “No direct evidence of convalescent-to-HHC transmission of EHF was found, although the semen of convalescents may be infectious. The existence of initially antibody-positive HHCs suggests that mild cases of Ebola virus infection occurred and that the full extent of the EHF epidemic was probably underestimated.”
“EHF convalescents and their contacts should be followed in a research setting that includes screening of body fluids, especially semen; educating contacts to avoid body fluids, especially semen; and providing latex gloves when contact with body fluids is unavoidable.
Furthermore, condoms should be provided for three months to prevent potential sexual transmission of Ebola Virus.
WHO withdraws worker from Sierra Leone lab
The World Health Organization (WHO) has withdrawn a member of staff from a laboratory at Kailahun in Eastern Sierra Leone after one of its medical workers there was infected during the outbreak of Ebola disease.
This was disclosed by a WHO spokesperson.
“It’s a temporary measure to take care of the welfare of our remaining workers,” WHO spokesperson, Christy Feig, told Reuters.
“After our assessment, they will return.”
The WHO has sent nearly 400 people from its own member of staff and partner organisations to fight the outbreak in West Africa.
