The WHO has reported a second cluster of cases in Uganda’s Ebola Sudan outbreak, linked to a deceased child, prompted heightened surveillance. Additionally, chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Kaufman County, Texas, affecting two deer. A study from Norway indicates that sleep debt among nurses increases their risk for infections, underscoring the need for health monitoring in shift workers.
On March 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an update on Uganda’s Ebola Sudan outbreak, confirming a second cluster consisting of three cases and two probable cases. All cases are linked to a deceased 4-year-old child, whose confirmed death on February 25 has raised alarms regarding potential undetected transmission, prompting intensified surveillance efforts. The investigation highlighted the child’s mother and newborn, who also died with symptoms indicative of probable Ebola, as key links in this emerging outbreak. They, along with other fatalities, did not receive supervised burials, complicating containment efforts.
Currently, 192 new contacts have been identified and are being monitored in relation to this cluster, which includes individuals from the Kampala and Wakiso districts, as well as Ntoroko district, near the Democratic Republic of the Congo border. As of March 2, the case fatality rate stands at 29%, reflecting a decrease compared to previous outbreaks that exhibited fatality rates ranging from 41% to 70%. This situation marks Uganda’s sixth outbreak of the Ebola Sudan virus.
In a separate report, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) confirmed that chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected for the first time in Kaufman County, Texas, affecting two white-tailed deer. This discovery emerged during routine CWD surveillance, revealing a 20-month-old male and an 8-month-old female deer carrying the fatal disease. To mitigate further spread, the Texas Animal Health Commission enacted a quarantine on the facility involved.
CWD is a progressive disease caused by prions—infectious misfolded proteins—which can remain in the environment for years, resistant to extreme temperatures and various disinfectants. Since CWD’s initial identification in Colorado in 1967, it has spread across 36 U.S. states and several other countries.
Additionally, a study conducted by researchers at Haukeland University Hospital in Norway linked sleep debt and night shifts to an elevated risk of infections among nurses. Involving 1,335 participants, the study found significant correlations between sleep inadequacies and various illnesses, including colds, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal infections. The findings, published in Chronobiology International, underscore the health implications of shift work, which affects approximately 25% of workers globally, and the urgent need for monitoring employee health in such settings.
In summary, the recent updates from the World Health Organization and other health authorities highlight urgent public health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the emergence of chronic wasting disease in Texas. Continuous monitoring and increased awareness are essential, particularly for populations at risk, such as healthcare workers and those in high-transmission areas like deer farms. Furthermore, understanding the health impacts of sleep deprivation and work patterns remains critical for the wellbeing of essential service employees.
Original Source: www.cidrap.umn.edu
