Ebola Virus Found In Survivor’s Semen 6 Months After Negative Blood Test
By Dana Dovey
MedicalDaily.com
Apr 17, 2015
Traces of the Ebola virus have been found in the semen of an Ebola survivor six months after being declared virus-free. Doctors are now working to uncover whether or not this is an isolated occurrence, but for the time being health officials are advising all Ebola survivors to either abstain from sex or use condoms until more information is available.
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP in an email that the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was declared Ebola-free in September via a negative blood test, but his semen sample tested positive for Ebola 175 days later.
Health officials had been aware that the virus could survive in semen after recovery, but not to this extent. Based on these new findings, the World Health Organization has advised that any Ebola survivors should treat the virus as an STD and take necessary precautions during sexual intercourse until further notice. This contradicts the WHO’s previous advisement that condoms be used up to three months following a negative test result.
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