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Ebola in India: Ebola-infected Indian in Delhi unlikely to have transmitted the virus to others

Ebola in India: Ebola-infected Indian in Delhi unlikely to have transmitted the virus to others

Written by Kriti Saraswat |Published : November 22, 2014 11:57 AM IST

26-year-old Indian man who was infected with Ebola in Liberia but later was cured of it and came back to India is kept under isolation at the Airport Health Organisation in Delhi. Scientists have confirmed that he could not have infected any other person on his way from Liberia to Delhi as there was no residual of Ebola virus found in his throat, saliva or urine samples. These bodily secretions are likely to spread the virus from one to another but the National Centre for Disease Control has given its clearance on this matter.

Even though the virus can remain in body secretions for about three weeks after the person has been cured, the patient has passed that period and the results are negative. But before he is discharged, his semen and stool sample will again be tested for any residual of Ebola virus as his semen can possibly transfer the disease through sexual contact for as long as 90 days after the cure.

The patient was cured of the virus in Liberia and entered India on November 10 with a certificate of medical clearance from their health officials and ministry. According to Indian officials, the man is likely to be kept under the special isolation unit at the Delhi Airport Health Organization until the time his body fluids test negative and is found medically fit to be discharged.

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