Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2019 Feb;25(2):249-255.
doi: 10.3201/eid2502.181011. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

Ebola Virus Infection Associated with Transmission from Survivors

Saskia Den Boon, Barbara J Marston, Tolbert G Nyenswah, Amara Jambai, Moumie Barry, Sakoba Keita, Kara Durski, Schabbethai S Senesie, Devin Perkins, Anita Shah, Hugh H Green, Esther L Hamblion, Margaret Lamunu, Alex Gasasira, Nuha O Mahmoud, Mamadou H Djingarey, Oliver Morgan, Ian Crozier, Christopher Dye
Multicenter Study

Ebola Virus Infection Associated with Transmission from Survivors

Saskia Den Boon et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Ebola virus (EBOV) can persist in immunologically protected body sites in survivors of Ebola virus disease, creating the potential to initiate new chains of transmission. From the outbreak in West Africa during 2014-2016, we identified 13 possible events of viral persistence-derived transmission of EBOV (VPDTe) and applied predefined criteria to classify transmission events based on the strength of evidence for VPDTe and source and route of transmission. For 8 events, a recipient case was identified; possible source cases were identified for 5 of these 8. For 5 events, a recipient case or chain of transmission could not be confidently determined. Five events met our criteria for sexual transmission (male-to-female). One VPDTe event led to at least 4 generations of cases; transmission was limited after the other events. VPDTe has increased the importance of Ebola survivor services and sustained surveillance and response capacity in regions with previously widespread transmission.

Keywords: Ebola virus disease; Guinea; Liberia; Sierra Leone; West Africa; response; sexual transmission; surveillance; survivors; viral persistence; viruses.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Sudan, 1976. Report of a WHO/International Study Team. Bull World Health Organ. 1978;56:247–70. - PMC - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. Ebola situation report 30 March 2016. [cited 2016 Apr 11] http://apps.who.int/ebola/current-situation/ebola-situation-report-30-ma...
    1. World Health Organization. Clinical care for survivors of Ebola virus disease. Interim guidance [cited 2016 Apr 11]. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/ebola/guidance-survivors/en/
    1. Clark DV, Kibuuka H, Millard M, Wakabi S, Lukwago L, Taylor A, et al. Long-term sequelae after Ebola virus disease in Bundibugyo, Uganda: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015;15:905–12. 10.1016/S1473-3099(15)70152-0 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bausch DG, Towner JS, Dowell SF, Kaducu F, Lukwiya M, Sanchez A, et al. Assessment of the risk of Ebola virus transmission from bodily fluids and fomites. J Infect Dis. 2007;196(Suppl 2):S142–7. 10.1086/520545 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types