EBOLA: LIBERIA URGES EBOLA SURVIVORS TO TEMPORARILY ABSTAIN FROM SEX

Following the death of 44 year old woman with Ebola who was suspected of having caught the disease through sex with a surviving partner, Liberia health officials have advised Ebola survivors to abstain temporarily from sex.

Health officials are currently monitoring 211 individuals who came in contact with the 44 year old woman but none has shown any symptoms of the disease yet.
Research has shown traces of Ebola in semen of survivors for at least 82 days after the onset of symptoms, which means they could carry the virus in their semen long after they have recovered.

There are no conclusive scientific proof that the traces in semen are infectious but as a precaution, World Health Organisation (WHO) advices survivors to abstain from sex for a 90 day period following recovery or practice safe sex.

Deputy Health Minister, Tobert Nyenswah says survivors should follow WHO guidelines for at least three months and suggested they even go a step further to practice safe sex until modes of transmission are better understood.