Ebola: Don't have sex with Guinean players, fans - WHO cautions ladies inTamale

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the people of Tamale, especially ladies in the Northern Region capital, to take strict precautions to avert a possible Ebola infection from Guinean football players or fans.

Although the Ghana-Guinea AFCON qualifier ended in a 3-1 triumph for the Black Stars on Wednesday, the WHO is concerned Guinean fans who traveled to Ghana to support their national team could pose serious threats to the country.

Guinea is among three countries worst hit by the deadly virus in West Africa.

Liberia and Sierra Leone, the other two, are struggling to contain spread of the disease that has killed more than 4,000 people in the sub-region.

WHO has warned there could be far reaching consequences if Ghanaian ladies who like footballers overlook precautions to avoid a possible infection of the virus.

Focal Officer in Charge of Health Promotion at WHO Ghana Office, Joana Anson, said the caution is not to discriminate against the Guineans in the country.

"Prevention is our best protection. Ebola Viral Disease is still raging and Guinea is one of the affected countries, and so if they (Guineans) are coming to town we just need to remind ourselves of basic preventive measures", she added.

She said it is easy for fans to get carried away by the euphoria of the Black Stars' win but stressed to need to ensure prevention at all times.

"For those (ladies) who are obsessed with footballers and would possibly like to have sexual contact with them, we need to remind ourselves [about the need to be cautious]", Joana Anson said.

She said although the Guineans may look fit or passEbola infectiion checks at the airport, they could still be habouring the virus.

"Even when [a man] has contracted the disease but has been declared fit, the virus still stays in the semen for a period of six to seven weeks" she stated.

Deaths from the deadly viral disease currently stands at about 4,500.

The World Health Organization estimates that there will be 5,000 to 10,000 new Ebola cases weekly in West Africa by the first week of December.

Officially, WHO has reported only 8,914 Ebola cases total in the entire months-long outbreak, but it has said that the total is under-reported.