Rogstad Karen E, Tunbridge Anne
aHIV and Sexual Health, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Undergraduate Dean, University of Sheffield School of Medicine bInfectious Diseases, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2015 Feb;28(1):83-5. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000135.
The ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa is a major global health challenge. The main mode of transmission is through contact with bodily fluids and skin of those infected or who have died. This review was undertaken to consider the evidence for transmission by contact with bodily fluids occurring through sexual activity.
No cases in the previous 20 outbreaks or the current outbreak in West Africa have been shown to be sexually transmitted, although other types of viral haemorrhagic fever have had sexual transmission implicated. Ebola virus is found in sites and fluids associated with sexual activity but this occurs at different stages of the disease. Persistence in the convalescent period occurs in rectum, vagina and semen, with persistence in semen being longest of up to at least 101 days. Recommendations based on this data are that those recovering from Ebola virus disease should abstain from all sexual intercourse, or if this is not possible, use condoms, for 3 months after the onset of symptoms.
There is theoretical plausibility for sexual transmission of Ebola virus but there has been no evidence of this occurring. Further research is needed to consider if sexual activity contributes to the epidemic in order to inform individuals with regard to avoiding acquisition or transmission by those recovering from Ebola virus disease.
西非持续的埃博拉病毒疫情是一项重大的全球卫生挑战。主要传播方式是通过接触感染者或死亡者的体液和皮肤。本综述旨在探讨通过性活动接触体液而传播病毒的证据。
尽管其他类型的病毒性出血热存在性传播的情况，但在之前的20次疫情爆发以及当前西非的疫情中，均未发现有性传播的病例。埃博拉病毒可在与性活动相关的部位和体液中被发现，但这发生在疾病的不同阶段。康复期病毒在直肠、阴道和精液中持续存在，其中精液中的病毒持续时间最长，至少可达101天。基于这些数据的建议是，从埃博拉病毒病康复的患者在症状出现后3个月内应避免一切性行为，若无法做到，则应使用避孕套。
埃博拉病毒存在性传播的理论可能性，但尚无此类传播发生的证据。需要进一步研究以确定性活动是否会助长疫情，从而为个人提供关于避免从埃博拉病毒病康复者那里感染或传播病毒的信息。
