Just when we thought all the terrifying news about Ebola had finally begun to die down, this tweet from the World Health Organization (WHO) landed in our news feed. It's a warning that semen could contain infectious Ebola viral particles for up to three months after the first symptoms of the disease are detected. The WHO tweet goes on to advise "men should wear condoms during sexual contact for at least three months after recovery from Ebola."
Semen may be infectious with #Ebola virus for as long as 3 months after onset of symptoms http://t.co/TfWE5BIfTW pic.twitter.com/N3IWE5yqmo
— WHO (@WHO) November 28, 2014
Frightening stuff, and here's what apparently prompted it: Last month, an Indian man who had Ebola and was declared cured on September 30 had his blood and semen tested in an Indian airport, according to a CNN report. While his blood test came back negative for Ebola, the virus was detected in his semen. The man was placed in quarantine, and scary headlines linking Ebola and semen went out all over the media.
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The CDC has always included semen in the list of bodily fluids that can transmit the virus from a symptomatic person to a new victim (read this for more info on how the virus spreads, and how you can protect yourself).
But CDC officials aren't sure if the presence of viral particles in semen means that the person is actually infectious. "Although Ebola virus has been detected in semen after patients have recovered, it is not known if the virus can be spread through sex (including oral sex)," states the CDC website. "As a precaution, men who have recovered from Ebola are advised to abstain from sex (including oral sex) for three months. If abstinence is not possible, condoms may help prevent the spread of disease." And according to WHO, sexual transmission of the virus has not been documented.
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Still, in another effort to play it safe, a second WHO tweet made a suggestion regarding masturbation:
Male #Ebola survivor shld maintain personal hygiene after masturbation as semen may be infectious for up to 3 months after onset of symptoms
— WHO (@WHO) November 28, 2014
For more information, check out the CDC's latest Ebola updates.
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