A study of Liberian men found previous estimates of how long the Ebola virus could remain in semen were significantly too low, as one man was found to still carry the virus 565 days after he recovered from the illness.
The test only detected the genetic material of the virus, not whether it’s still transmissible, but as the Washington Post wrote, it underscores how little we know about the disease.
“This program provides important insights into how long Ebola remains in semen, a key component to preventing flare-ups of the disease and protecting survivors and their loved ones,” said Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC. “It also shows how investments in public health capacity can save lives.”
For more on the intriguing findings of the CDC-operated semen screening program in Liberia—and why it may take time for researchers to make sense of what they discovered—click on the link below:
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.