Recent Updates on Ebola, Chronic Wasting Disease, and Nurse Health Risks

The WHO reported a second cluster of Ebola Sudan cases in Uganda, linked to a child’s death, raising surveillance concerns. CWD was found in Kaufman County, Texas, affecting deer, and a study indicates sleep debt in nurses contributes to increased infection risks. Together, these highlights reflect ongoing public health challenges.

On March 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided an update concerning a second cluster of Ebola Sudan cases in Uganda, consisting of three confirmed and two probable cases. This has raised significant concerns about potential undetected transmission, prompting an increase in surveillance measures. All identified cases are connected to a four-year-old child, whose death from the virus was confirmed on February 25. The WHO noted that the child’s mother died from an acute illness following childbirth, while the baby also succumbed, yet neither underwent testing for the virus.

The WHO reported that the mother began to exhibit symptoms on January 22 and died on January 6. Her newborn passed away shortly after on January 12, and alarming circumstances surround their burial, as all three deaths did not have supervised burials. The eleventh confirmed case is a woman who had direct contact with the boy, while the twelfth case involves a woman in contact with the mother; both are being treated in Ebola facilities.

As of March 2, a total of 192 contacts from various districts, including Kampala and Wakiso, have been identified and are currently under monitoring in relation to the second cluster. This ongoing outbreak represents Uganda’s sixth occurrence of Ebola Sudan. Notably, the case fatality rate currently stands at 29%, notably lower than the 41% to 70% rates observed in previous outbreaks.

In a separate report, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected for the first time in Kaufman County, Texas, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Two white-tailed deer at a deer farm tested positive for this fatal neurological condition during routine CWD surveillance. Kaufman County, situated just outside Dallas, is now under strict quarantine as preventive measures are enacted to inhibit disease spread.

CWD is caused by prions, infectious misfolded proteins, which can transmit between cervids via body fluids such as saliva and urine and can persist in the environment for extended periods. Since its initial detection in Texas in 2012, CWD has affected both captive and free-ranging deer species across multiple states and international borders.

Additionally, a new study conducted by Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, highlights a significant correlation between sleep debt and night work among nurses and an increased susceptibility to infections like the common cold, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal issues. Researchers analyzed data from 1,335 nurses, finding a direct link between reduced sleeper quality and heightened risks for various health complications. Published in “Chronobiology International,” this research underscores the health implications of shift work, which involves about 25% of the global workforce.

The recent updates underscore significant public health concerns regarding the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, particularly with the emergence of a second cluster potentially linked to undetected transmissions. Concurrently, the discovery of CWD in Texas’s deer population highlights ongoing challenges in wildlife health management. The relationship between sleep patterns and increased infection risk among nurses emphasizes the broader implications of night work, affecting a considerable proportion of employees globally. These issues merit continued surveillance and research to mitigate health risks to both humans and wildlife.

Original Source: www.cidrap.umn.edu