WHO warns that Ebola may be transmitted sexually

The World Health Organisation has issued an interim

advice on the possibility of Ebola Virus of being

sexually transmitted.

The WHO had directed all Ebola survivors and their

sexual partners to receive counselling to guard

against possible transmission of the disease.

This is contained in a statement made available by

WHO to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.

It indicated that the sexual transmission of the

Ebola Virus had yet to be established.

WHO said, “The sexual transmission of the Ebola

Virus from males to females is a strong possibility,

but has not yet been proven; less probable, but

theoretically possible.

“Studies have shown that Ebola virus can be

isolated from semen up to 82 days after symptom

onset.

“A recent case investigation identified genetic

material (RNA) from the virus by nucleic acid

amplification tests (such as RT-PCR) 199 days

after symptom onset.

“This is well beyond the period of virus detecting

ability in the blood of survivors and long after

recovery from illness.

“The detection of virus genetic material many

months after symptom onset is assumed to reflect

the continuing, or at least very recent, presence of

live and potentially transmissible Ebola virus.”

More surveillance data and research are needed on

the risks of sexual transmission and particularly on

the prevalence of viable and transmissible virus in

semen over time, WHO said.

WHO recommends that, in the interim, all Ebola

survivors and their sexual partners should receive

counselling.

It added that this is to ensure safe sexual

practices until their semen has twice tested

negative; and survivors should be provided with

condoms.

“Ebola survivors and their sexual partners should

either abstain from all types of sex or observe safe

sex through correct and consistent condom use

until their semen has twice tested negative.

“Having tested negative, survivors can safely

resume normal sexual practices without fear of

Ebola virus transmission,” the statement added.

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