Health officials are investigating a new case of Ebola that has been claimed to be spread through sexual intercourse. A man who was infected by the virus five months ago is believed to be the culprit in spreading it to a woman he had unprotected sex with.
Scientists now believe that a new mode of transmission has emerged. However, previous knowledge entails that the virus could stay in the semen for at least three months. However, this new case had baffled health experts because the said transfer of the virus happened five months after infection.
On Friday, a report was released detailing the case of a 44-year old woman from Liberia whose infection was believed to have come from a 46-year old man who had Ebola last September. By March, she became ill a week after having sex with him, reports Time of India.
Normally, as per reports, the virus could be spread through direct contact with the patient's body fluids like urine, saliva, sweat and semen. When the person recovers, he or she is no longer contagious. Yet, many still believe that the virus could stay in the semen for up to three months.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said that, "There have been fewer than 10 such cases. It's been difficult to pinpoint that sex was the only way they may have been infected."
Meanwhile, Dr. Sakoba Keita, the National Coordinator for Ebola response said that a woman in the town of Macenta incurred the infection after having unprotected sex with her husband. Now, health officials are issuing a public warning to all Ebola Survivors to abstain from sex or use condoms for the mean time, reports My Fox News.
