The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released preliminary findings from a study suggesting that male survivors of Ebola can still have Ebola virus fragments in their semen long after the illness has subsided.
Preliminary results from a study reveal certain men still had semen that tested for Ebola virus nine months after first experiencing symptoms.
Bruce Aylward, WHO Director-General’s Special Representative on the Ebola Response, said the findings come at a critical time.
“[W]hile Ebola case numbers continue to plummet, Ebola survivors and their families continue to struggle with the effects of the disease,” Aylward said. “This study provides further evidence that survivors need continued, substantial support for the next 6 to 12 months to meet these challenges and to ensure their partners are not exposed to potential virus.”
Amara Jambai, M.D., M.Sc., Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, saidSierra Leone is one of the countries striving to eliminate Ebola from within its borders.
“Sierra Leone is committed to getting to zero cases and to taking care of our survivors , and part of that effort includes understanding how survivors may be affected after their initial recovery,” Jambai said. “Survivors are to be commended for contributing to the studies that help us understand how long the virus may persist in semen.”
