Ebola cases in Uganda rise to 14 as new cluster emerges, posing a challenge to health workers
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Uganda's Ebola caseload increased to 14 in the last week, Africa's top public health agency said Thursday, with a new cluster emerging from a 4-year-old child who recently died of the infectious disease.
Three of five new cases have been confirmed as Ebola, with two cited as probably Ebola, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters.
The Africa CDC reported that there was no direct epidemiological link between the new cluster and another one accounting for nine previous Ebola cases, including the first victim of the outbreak.
Ebola is now spreading in five of Uganda's 146 districts, it said. That includes Kampala, the capital, where the outbreak was declared on Jan. 30. Two Ebola deaths have been confirmed.
Local health officials have not been giving regular updates on the outbreak, raising concerns about a lack of transparency. At least three hospitals in Kampala have handled confirmed or suspected Ebola cases without later informing the public of it.
Dr. Charles Olaro, the director of health services in the Ministry of Health, told The Associated Press he believed the situation was under control. Officials were not required to give updates on every incident, he said.
Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's infecting people in Uganda.
Ebola, which is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, manifests as a deadly hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.
Scientists suspect the first person infected with Ebola in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat.
Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the latest outbreak.
The first victim was a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared. He had sought treatment at multiple facilities in Kampala and in eastern Uganda, where he also visited a traditional healer in trying to diagnose his illness, before later dying in Kampala.
Uganda's last outbreak, discovered in September 2022, killed at least 55 people before it was declared over in January 2023.
Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe, a hospital director who helped lead efforts to stop that outbreak, described the current one as 'amorphous,' throwing up sporadic cases that require more serious surveillance to locate and isolate contacts.
Ebola in Uganda is the latest in a trend of outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the east African region. Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease in January, and in December Rwanda announced its own outbreak of Marburg was over.
Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease's largest death toll.
Ebola was discovered in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
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As well as this, Sharon recently told Daily Mail about her "frustration" with the lingering effects, as she shared: 'Now, I weigh just over 7st. I need to put on 10lb, but however much I eat, I stay the same weight. 'I've had enough. I've given up on all interventions. I couldn't have much more facial surgery - there's not that much skin left to stretch, pull or cut. And I won't have any more fillers or Botox. What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. 'I don't think I'll ever be happy with the way I look. 'I've learned my lesson. This is me. It's finally time to leave well alone.' Not only this, but Sharon claimed doctors are at a loss as to why she hasn't been able to gain weight back after she stopped using Ozempic months ago, as she stressed: 'The doctors can't figure it out.' But Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, tells us that Ozempic users over 65 will struggle much more than others to gain weight after coming off of fat jabs. It can become quite difficult to eat enough to put weight back on Kiran Jones Kiran says: 'Media personality Sharon Osbourne has been vocal about her use of Ozempic and has lost over 40 pounds with the help of the popular medication. 'However, she's since revealed that she's struggling to regain weight since coming off the drug, as she feels she's lost too much weight. 'While many people do regain weight after stopping Ozempic and other GLP-1s, this isn't always the case for patients over 65. 'Older adults often experience a natural decline in appetite as part of the ageing process. Add the lasting effects of a GLP-1 medicine, and it can become quite difficult to eat enough to put weight back on.' 9 Kiran Jones recognises that Ozempic users over 65 will struggle much more than others to gain weight after coming off of the fat jabs Credit: Supplied As well as this, Kiran adds: 'In some cases, the weight loss itself changes the body's needs. 'With less muscle and a slower metabolism, older patients simply don't need as much food, so if appetite stays low, weight regain can slow or stop. 'What looks like 'success' from a weight loss perspective can actually lead to frailty in this group, especially if they've lost muscle or strength along the way.' Kiran observes a 'shift' that can 'stick', as she continues: 'Many patients adjust their habits while on Ozempic, they start eating smaller meals and feeling full faster. 'That shift can stick, even after stopping the medication. For older people, who may already eat lightly, this can make it even harder to increase food intake again. 'It's worth noting that older adults are more vulnerable to the side effects of nausea or stomach upset, even after stopping. "If food feels unappealing or difficult to digest, eating more becomes a real challenge. 'For patients over 65, weight management after Ozempic needs a more tailored approach. It's not just about weight on the scale. It's about strength, function, and making sure people stay well-nourished. 'This group may benefit from extra clinical support, not just during treatment but also after, especially if they're struggling to gain weight or feel well.' It could potentially have put her in a position where it is extremely hard to regain the weight she has lost, with regards to muscle and bone strength Dr. Ed Robinson Similarly, Dr Ed Robinson, a leading aesthetic doctor, recognises that perimenopausal women, as well as those battling menopause, may struggle to gain weight after using Ozempic. Dr Ed explains: 'The only way in which Ozempic could have long-term effects like this is if you lost so much weight and so much muscular atrophy while taking the drug. 'Then it is very difficult to put weight back on - especially for menopausal or postmenopausal women who don't have the levels of hormone anymore.' Dr Ed describes Sharon as 'so thin' and 'quite frail looking', as he concludes: 'It could potentially have put her in a position where it is extremely hard to regain the weight she has lost, with regards to muscle and bone strength. 'If you are too frail, it is hard to do the necessary exercises to boost strength.' 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