Posted on: Tue 03-11-2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified a critical but often misunderstood aspect of Ebola transmission: survivors who have recovered from the disease and been discharged from treatment centres are not expected to spread the virus through sweat or saliva. However, the virus can sometimes remain in the semen of male survivors, creating a risk of sexual transmission even after apparent recovery 

According to WHO emergency response expert Patrick Otim, Ebola may persist in certain parts of the body despite clinical recovery. This phenomenon, known as viral persistence, means that some male survivors can potentially transmit the virus during sexual intercourse if infectious virus remains in their semen. 

To reduce this risk, WHO recommends that male survivors receive counselling on safer sex practices, have access to condoms, and undergo regular semen testing until they record two consecutive negative results. In places where testing programmes are unavailable, survivors are advised to practise safer sex for up to 12 months following recovery. 

The organisation emphasises that survivors who meet discharge requirements, including negative blood test results, are not expected to transmit Ebola through everyday contact, sweat, or saliva because the virus has been cleared from their bloodstream. 

Health officials also stressed that this guidance applies specifically to recovered patients. Individuals who are actively ill with Ebola can still spread the virus through infected bodily fluids, including sweat and blood, making early detection and isolation essential during outbreaks. 

As health authorities continue to monitor Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, WHO says understanding the distinction between transmission risks during illness and after recovery is crucial to protecting communities while avoiding unnecessary stigma against survivors. 

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