New Research: Ebola survivors at risk of eye and joint problems

A new report from WHO suggest that persons who survive from deadly Ebola virus are at risk of having eye and joint problems.

According to WHO doctors, a substantial proportion of patients have reported problems with their vision and joints.

Working for WHO in Sierra Leone, Dr Andrew Ramsay, said:

"Eye problems might be caused by damage to the cornea, to the nerves or something else. At this point we do not have enough information to know exactly what is going on. But we need to find out urgently so we can do whatever we can to preserve the eyesight for people who have to try to pick up their lives again."

BBC reports that WHO announced it was attempting to set up clinics in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea to monitor the health consequences Ebola survivors face, adding that there has not been enough focus on this so far.

While admitting that not much was known about the long-term implications of the virus, assistant director general WHO, Dr Bruce Aylward said the information gathered at the clinics would help the mental and physical health needs of people recovering from the disease.

In the meantime, experts said they were considering whether it was feasible to offer screening to male survivors to check if the virus was still present in semen after they recovered.

Current advice suggests survivors should practice safe sex for 90 days after they have been declared free of the virus, as it can linger in some bodily fluids.

There have been 25,532 cases during this Ebola outbreak and 10,584 deaths