Original Publication Date: 13 March, 2017
Publication / Source: Infectious Diseases Hub
Authors: Jean-François Etard, Moumié Barry & Eric Delaporte for the Postebogui study group (IRD UMI 233-INSERM U1175-University Montpellier, France)
The 2013–2016 West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has resulted in more than 17,000 survivors. Specifically, Guinea was declared Ebola-free on June 1st 2016 and left behind 3814 cases – 2544 deaths and 1270 survivors .
Why did we study the Ebola survivors?
Before the recent, unprecedented outbreak, studies from previous outbreaks in Central and East Africa had already demonstrated that survivors frequently suffered from a large variety of symptoms (musculoskeletal disorders, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, ocular complications, auditory symptoms, psychological problems, hearing loss, memory loss) . Following the 1995 outbreak in Kikwit (Democratic Republic of Congo), a viable viral persistence in semen was demonstrated up to 3 months after disease onset . Given the large number of survivors resulting from the West African outbreak, the possibility of long-term clinical complications, psycho-social consequences and a risk of a sexual transmission were all burning questions.