Ebola Found In Semen For An Average Of 66 Days After Diagnosis

Recent findings published in the journal Reproductive Sciences show that men who have been infected with Ebola should wear condoms for a minimum of three months.

"Our exercise demonstrated that the current recommendations to prevent the sexual spread of Ebola are based on one mere observation," the researchers wrote in the study, in a news release. "Despite the evident need to conduct more research, for now, health care professionals should strongly recommend sexual abstinence or condom-protected encounters for at least three months."

Research on male survivors has been relatively lacking. Yet experts now believe that having protected sex, even with their partner or spouse, should be used as a cautionary method.

For the most recent research, the study authors examined data on men who recovered from the Ebola virus between 1977 and 2007. Findings revealed that the virus persisted in semen for an average of 66.6 days. However, one case showed that it lasted for up to 91 days.

"The current Ebola Virus Disease outbreak is the longest and largest we have ever seen. Nonetheless, our results clearly demonstrate how much we ignore about it. Larger studies are needed to establish the social, clinical and biological determinants of this neglected disease," researchers concluded.

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