Goats and Soda

editor's note

Dear readers,

This week we published a fascinating story about a little-known phenomenon in the world of diseases: "sanctuary sites."

That's what scientists call parts of the body where a nasty virus -- like Ebola -- can hide out even after a person tests negative and shows no symptoms. And then after months, even years, the virus can emerge to reinfect the host and other people as well. That can lead to a whole new outbreak.

We asked correspondent Gabrielle Emanuel to tell us a bit about her reporting.

So how did you find out about these "sanctuary sites"? 

Last year, at just about this time, I attended an infectious diseases conference where I ran into Joel Montgomery of the CDC. I asked him something along the lines of “what’s the most interesting thing you’re working on” and the conversation led us to this topic of viruses hiding out inside certain body parts, like the brain and the testes. We had to run off to different conference sessions but what he said stayed with me. We met up later at the same conference so I could ask him 1,000 questions about sanctuary sites. 

Fast forward to September when the Democratic Republic of Congo declared an Ebola outbreak. I knew I needed to get back in touch with Montgomery to see if sanctuary sites might be playing a role.

What's the most surprising thing you learned?

I find it astonishing — and unnerving — that scientists don’t know exactly why a survivor’s semen can test positive for the virus, then negative, and then positive again. 

What’s behind the name “sanctuary site”?

Well, this is from the perspective of the virus. It’s a safe haven from the immune system. The other phrases scientists use to talk about this phenomenon are: “immuno privileged sites” and “viral persistence.” 

I like the term sanctuary site because it sounds less like scientific jargon and I find it more intriguing. 

Read the story here.

Marc Silver,
Editor, Goats and Soda

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