Live Ebola virus in survivor's eye!!

A recent study of an Ebola survivor showed live Ebola virus in the aqueous humor fluid within one of survivor`s eyes for more than 2 months after recovery. Though casual contact with Ebola survivors does not pose a risk as tear fluid and conjunctiva samples tested negative for Ebola in same patient.

But risk exist while performing invasive procedure in survivors eyes.

Ebola survivors "require ongoing medical care to manage complications from the infection that may develop during recovery"says infectious disease specialist Jay Varkey, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. The researchers say Ebola disease survivors should be monitored for eye and other health complications after recovery.

So it is advisable to develop and strictly follow standard operating protocols while performing invasive procedures, handling lab specimens and while managing biomedical waste.

"The Ebola outbreak that started in December 2013 became a public health, humanitarian and socioeconomic crisis with a devastating impact on families, communities and affected countries," write the WHO leaders. "It also served as a reminder that the world, including WHO, is ill-prepared for a large and sustained disease outbreak." 

Post Credit

Dr Sharva Pandya

Consultant Ophthalmologist

Jai Drishti Eye Hospital, Udaipur (Raj)

Reference:

1. Persistence of Ebola virus in ocular fluid during convalescence, Jay B. Varkey, et al., New England Journal of Medicine, doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1500306, published online 7 May 2015.

2. Paddock, Catharine. "Live Ebola virus detected in survivor's eye months after recovery." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 May. 2015. Web.
18 Jun. 2015. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/293711.php>