One might recall that there was a recent (Mid Febrary) outbreak of Ebola in Guinea and by mid-March there were some 18 cases identified with 9 deaths. The viral samples were sent to Reference Laboratory (Institut Pasteur de Dakar) for further analysis and sequencing.
The results came out earlier in the week and it's said that the virus might have lingered for 5 years in a survivor and caused this outbreak.
Phylogenetic analysis shows that it belongs to the same "Makona" variant which was present during the 2013-2016 epidemic, except for a few minor changes.
Therefore it's believed that the index case of the 2021 Guinea cluster was likely infected from a persistent source, such as via sexual transmission from an EVD survivor.
Previously, the longest time a person has been known to shed the Ebola virus was 500 days (through sexual contact - sperms) and it wasn't thought that 5 years was even a possibility.
Now it's proven that the Ebola virus can remain in hiding for 5 years or possibly more!
The results came out earlier in the week and it's said that the virus might have lingered for 5 years in a survivor and caused this outbreak.
Phylogenetic analysis shows that it belongs to the same "Makona" variant which was present during the 2013-2016 epidemic, except for a few minor changes.
Therefore it's believed that the index case of the 2021 Guinea cluster was likely infected from a persistent source, such as via sexual transmission from an EVD survivor.
Previously, the longest time a person has been known to shed the Ebola virus was 500 days (through sexual contact - sperms) and it wasn't thought that 5 years was even a possibility.
Now it's proven that the Ebola virus can remain in hiding for 5 years or possibly more!
