title: Possible sexual transmission of Ebola virus - Liberia, 2015.
abstract: On March 20, 2015, 30 days after the most recent confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) patient in Liberia was isolated, Ebola was laboratory confirmed in a woman in Monrovia. The investigation identified only one epidemiologic link to Ebola: unprotected vaginal intercourse with a survivor. Published reports from previous outbreaks have demonstrated Ebola survivors can continue to harbor virus in immunologically privileged sites for a period of time after convalescence. Ebola virus has been isolated from semen as long as 82 days after symptom onset and viral RNA has been detected in semen up to 101 days after symptom onset. One instance of possible sexual transmission of Ebola has been reported, although the accompanying evidence was inconclusive. In addition, possible sexual transmission of Marburg virus, a filovirus related to Ebola, was documented in 1968. This report describes the investigation by the Government of Liberia and international response partners of the source of Liberia's latest Ebola case and discusses the public health implications of possible sexual transmission of Ebola virus. Based on information gathered in this investigation, CDC now recommends that contact with semen from male Ebola survivors be avoided until more information regarding the duration and infectiousness of viral shedding in body fluids is known. If male survivors have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal), a condom should be used correctly and consistently every time.
authors.forename: Athalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Gloria J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Davies-Wayne
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cordier-Lassalle
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cordier-Lasalle
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Blackley
authors.forename: A Scott
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laney
authors.forename: Desmond E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Shivam A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badio
authors.forename: Terrence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mate
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ladner
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kugelman
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Holbrook
authors.forename: Krisztina B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Janosko
authors.forename: Emmie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Neeltje
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Doremalen
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Munster
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pettitt
authors.forename: Randal J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schoepp
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verhenne
authors.forename: Iro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Evlampidou
authors.forename: Karsor K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kollie
authors.forename: Sonpon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sieh
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasasira
authors.forename: Fatorma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolay
authors.forename: Francis N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Kateh
authors.forename: Tolbert G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nyenswah
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: De Cock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007988:Liberia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D017741:Survivors; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral