A Liberian woman has tested positive for Ebola after having unprotected sex with a man who survived the deadly virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the woman was diagnosed on Mon, Mar. 20. The 44-year-old unidentified patient is reportedly the first new Ebola infection that Liberia has recorded in a month; after the last Ebola patient was isolated.
Reports indicate that the woman visited a hospital about three weeks ago after developing headaches, joint pain, weakness and nausea. Tests revealed that she carried the Ebola virus. The patient has since been transferred to a nearby transit center for isolation and proper medical care.
According to USA Today, the patient had unprotected sex with a 46-year-old Ebola survivor from another community in Monrovia. The man, who is said to have recovered from the deadly virus after becoming infected in September, also had sex with a second woman but she has not tested positive for Ebola.
Studies during previous outbreaks indicate that Ebola has the ability to survive in semen for about 82 days after a patient's initial symptoms. However, according to the CDC, there hasn't been any conclusive documented evidence of the virus being transmitted in West Africa sexually.
The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have cautioned Ebola survivors to either abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms for at least 3 months after recovering from the virus. Officials also warn people to avoid contact with semen from male Ebola survivors. Survivors are further cautioned to to handle and dispose used condoms carefully in order to avoid contact with semen.
The number of people infected with Ebola has drastically reduced in West Africa over the past few months. However, authorities are have raised concerns about the possibility of the virus being spread through unprotected sexual intercourse with former patients.