埃博拉病毒可以通過感染體液的接觸在人與人之間傳播，但是這種病毒在玻璃表面或者臺面上可以存活多久?以及當患者的液體廢物排入污水系統后其可以存活多久?近日，發表在Environmental science & Technology Letters雜志上的一篇研究報告中，來自匹茲堡大學等處的研究者就給予了詳盡的解答。

助理教授Bibby表示，世界衛生組織表示可以將患者的廢物扔進糞坑或普通下水道中，埃博拉病毒會自然死亡，但是這種理論缺乏相應的證據來支撐，或許這是正確的，但是如何證明呢?

文章中，研究者表示，致死性病原體在物體表面、水中和液滴中存活的時間對于開發有效的消毒策略來抑制疾病的傳播至關重要，當前世界衛生組織指導方針規定醫院和保健診所中來自病人的液體廢物可以沖進馬桶中活在廁所中進行處理;然而利用病人液體廢物進行埃博拉病毒研究的實驗室的研究人員卻認為，在這些液體廢物進入污水系統之前應當對其進行消毒。

研究者翻閱了很多研究病毒在環境中存活時間的研究論文，他們發現在這方面缺少相關充足的研究論文，這就意味著沒人知道，也沒有人可以確保是否病毒會在物體表面上存活，甚至是引發感染或者斌膽固在水中、廢棄物中是否會依然保持活性，埃博拉病毒在機體外的持續性需要更多的研究才能證明。

研究者Bibby最近贏得了美國國家科學基金會11萬美元的資助用于該領域的研究，他們計劃鑒別出在生理特性上和埃博拉病毒非常相似的替代病毒，并且研究這種病毒在水中及廢水中的存活率，相關的研究或可幫助政策制定者們及時有效地制定出水處理及廢物處理的方法。

原文鏈接：Ebola Virus Persistence in the Environment: State of the Knowledge and Research Needs

原文摘要：In March 2014, an outbreak of Ebola virus (Ebola) arose in western Africa. Since then, there have been more than 10000 cases reported with a mortality rate of approximately 70% in clinically confirmed cases. A significant unanswered question has arisen for the scientific and engineering communities, as well as the general public, surrounding Ebola virus persistence in the environment and the potential for an environmental route of Ebola virus exposure. Here, the authors review the state of knowledge of Ebola virus environmental persistence and highlight future research needs. In general, there are limited data on the environmental persistence or disinfection of Ebola virus available in the open literature. The available evidence suggests that Ebola virus is inactivated at a rate more rapid than or comparable to those of typically monitored enteric viruses. Additionally, while environmental exposure is not the dominant exposure route, available data suggest that it is imprudent to dismiss the potential of environmental transmission without further evidence. A significant research effort, including environmental persistence studies and microbial risk assessment, is necessary to inform the safe handling and disposal of Ebola virus-contaminated waste, especially liquid waste in the wastewater collection and treatment system.

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