The World Health Organization has a clear message for Ebola survivors and the people around them: the virus can still be transmitted through sexual contact after recovery, but it cannot be passed on through everyday contact like sweat or saliva.
Patrick Otim, programme area manager for emergency response at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, shared this information in a video where he answered questions about how the virus works and spreads.
The distinction matters, because fear and misinformation around Ebola have long led to survivors being treated as permanent threats to their communities. Knowing exactly which transmission routes are real and which are not can help survivors reintegrate without stigma, while still taking the right precautions where they count.
The WHO continues to use direct, accessible formats like video Q and As to get accurate information to communities across the continent. What Otim's explanation reminds us is that understanding the facts is the first line of protection.
Originally published by Premium Times.