Ebola is never going away, WHO warns, Ebola IS a sexually transmitted disease

Ebola survivors are being warned to use condoms should they engage in sexual activity following their infection with Ebola. The reason is that the disease can be sexually transmitted which will result in subsequent infections even after the disease is cured.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The World Health Organization is telling Ebola survivors to use condoms in the wake of their recovery from Ebola because the disease is sexually transmitted and can be spread for several weeks after recovery.

This fact has not been publicized until recently, although it has been known for some time: in addition to other forms of spread, Ebola is also a sexually transmitted disease.

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Ebola's status as a sexually transmitted disease creates a serious problem for the world. Any Ebola survivor could transmit the disease to a previously uninfected person, starting a new outbreak even weeks or months after an area has been declared disease-free.

Although the World Health Organization is advocating the use of condoms, it should be understood that condoms are not always effective in stopping the transmission of disease and abstinence is the only certain way to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Although regions in Senegal and Nigeria where the disease made initial forays have been free of Ebola for 42 days, officials are worried about declaring the areas free of the disease because the area is still at risk from sexually transmitted Ebola.

Studies suggest that Ebola can be found in semen for up to 90 days following recovery.

Official recommendations may be for survivors to use condoms for up to 180 days, just to be safe. However, a more appropriate recommendation would be for abstinence.

Realistically, it is unlikely the disease will be fully stopped, now that it is circulating in urban areas. Some men will choose to neither remains abstinent or to use a condom ensuring fresh, periodic, urban outbreaks of the disease.

Even if the world is fortunate on this occasion and our drastic efforts to contain the disease are somehow successful this time around, it is also very possible that the disease will continue to return again and again as survivors fail to protect others.

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