Birthdays are exciting for everyone. There's celebration, a cake, and balloons. But what if it goes wrong? This is what happened with Giang Pham, from Vietnam, who was celebrating her 33rd birthday on February 14, when a hydrogen balloon in her hand touched the flame from the candle on the cake and exploded on her face.

This incident was also captured on camera. The footage clearly shows how the balloon blew up as soon as it touched the flame. Her friends were shocked and can be heard gasping in the background as they saw this.

In the days following the incident, she also shared photos on her Instagram showing her bandaged face, and revealed the first-degree burns on her hand and second-degree burns on her face. However, the good news was that her vision was unaffected, though for her face to recover, it would take months.

She is now also warning others about the risks of using highly inflammable hydrogen balloons. The other alternative could be a helium balloon, which you could fly higher and they remain on the ceiling.

Health Update

She revealed that her doctor estimated up to six months for her skin to recover. She would still have to go to the hospital for dressing and treatment. Another such case happened with a woman named Tine from Australia, when on her son's 7th birthday, the balloon exploded and "shook her house". Her son was burned in the forearm.

Such incidents happen because decorators want to save the cost by replacing helium with hydrogen, which is highly inflammable.

In Healing

Giang shared that she experienced second-degree burn on her face and first-degree burn on her hands. As per John Hopkins Medicine, first degree burns affect only the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin. The burn site becomes red, painful, dry, however, there are no blisters. A mild sunburn could be an example of such a burn. This is also called superficial burns.

Whereas, second degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of the skin. The burn site appears red, blistered and could also be swollen and painful. This is also known as partial thickness burn.

Then comes the third degree burns, also known as full thickness burn. This destroys the epidermis and dermis and could also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. However, when the bones and muscles are burned, it could be referred to as a fourth degree burn. The burn sit appears white or charred and there is no feeling in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed.

How burns are treated?

The right way to treat a burn depends on its depth and how much of the body it covers. While minor, superficial burns can be managed at home, deeper or larger burns may need medical attention. Keep these essential guidelines in mind:

Do:

• Remove the source of the burn immediately – For example, take off clothing soaked in hot liquid to prevent further damage.
• Run cool water over the burn – This helps soothe the skin, except in cases of certain chemical burns.
• Keep the burn clean and protected – Cover it with a clean, non-stick bandage when possible.
• Seek medical help – If the burn is deeper than a superficial layer, larger than your hand, or full-thickness, see a doctor.

Don’t:

• Use home remedies like bleach or butter – These can make the burn worse.
• Apply ointments or creams on deep burns – They can trap heat and worsen the injury.
• Put ice on the burn – It can cause more damage to the skin.
• Pop blisters – This increases the risk of infection.

Knowing these simple steps can make a big difference in burn care and healing.

The World Health Organization today declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC), citing the risk of spread to neighboring countries.

The WHO defines a Public Health Emergency as an extraordinary event or crisis that poses a substantial risk of widespread illness, injury, or death to a population, such as pandemics, severe pollution events, or natural disasters.

However, the WHO clarified that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. Countries sharing land borders with the DRC were described as being at high risk for further spread.

“The Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR),” the WHO said in a statement.

Ebola Outbreak: Cases And Deaths

The UN health agency said the outbreak has caused 80 deaths, with eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected Ebola cases reported in Ituri Province in the DR Congo, across Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.

In addition, two laboratory-confirmed cases — including one death — with no apparent link to each other were reported in Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, indicating international spread. Both individuals had travelled separately from the DR Congo.

A laboratory-confirmed case has also been reported in Kinshasa, DR Congo, involving a person returning from Ituri.

The WHO further noted unusual clusters of community deaths and said the outbreak poses a public health risk to other countries through international spread, which has already been documented.

Also read: World Hypertension Day 2026: Why Switching Salt May Be India’s Simplest Weapon Against High Blood Pressure

What Is Bundibugyo Virus Disease?

Bundibugyo virus disease is a rare and deadly illness that has caused outbreaks in several African countries in the past. It is different from other known ebolaviruses such as the Zaire ebolavirus and Sudan ebolavirus.

The virus was first identified during an outbreak in 2007, which resulted in more than 100 cases before being declared over in early 2008.

The WHO described the current outbreak as “extraordinary” because there are no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike the Ebola-Zaire strain. Most of the country’s previous outbreaks were caused by the Zaire strain.

How The Virus Spreads

According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bundibugyo strain spreads through contact with the blood or body fluids of infected individuals or people who have died from the disease.

Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment, or through infected animals including bats and nonhuman primates.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising in the later stages of illness.

Read More: Can Hantavirus Spread Through Semen And Breast Milk? What Experts Say

WHO Issues Guidelines

The WHO advised immediate isolation of confirmed cases and daily monitoring of contacts. It also recommended restricting national travel for exposed individuals and avoiding international travel until 21 days after exposure.

At the same time, the agency urged countries not to close borders or restrict travel and trade out of fear, warning that such measures could lead to unmonitored informal border crossings.

Health officials at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) today confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain.

Bundibugyo ebolavirus was first isolated during an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in Uganda in 2007. There are no vaccines or specific treatments approved to prevent or treat the Bundibugyo strain.

Preliminary laboratory results from the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) detected Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested with the Bundibugyo Virus.

"Africa CDC is actively collaborating with health authorities in DRC, Uganda, and regional partners to deliver a coordinated response to confirmed Ebola Virus Disease cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain," the Africa CDC said in a statement.

"Rapid laboratory testing, contact tracing, cross-border surveillance, and enhanced infection prevention measures are already deployed to protect communities and stop the spread," it added.

Ebola Outbreak: Cases And Deaths

As of the latest update from DRC, approximately 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported, mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.

Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.

Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia and are pending confirmation. These figures remain provisional and are being validated through laboratory confirmation, line-list harmonization, contact identification, and epidemiological investigation.

Also read: Ebola Resurfaces In Eastern DR Congo In 17th Outbreak, Claims 65 Lives: All You Need To Know

Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Kills Ugandan Man

Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in a statement, reported a confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease case in a 59-year-old Congolese male who was admitted to Kibuli Muslim Hospital on May 11 and died on May 14.

The country's officials reported the case as imported from DRC and have indicated that no local case has yet been confirmed.

Africa CDC noted that it remains concerned by the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, with intense population movement, insecurity, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, gaps in contact listing, infection prevention and control challenges, and the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan.

What Is Bundibugyo Virus Disease?

Bundibugyo virus disease is a rare and deadly illness that has caused outbreaks in several African countries in the past.

It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment), or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, that are infected with BVD.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness).

Read More: National Dengue Day 2026: India Reports 6,927 Cases And 10 Deaths In 2026

Ebola Outbreak: Here's How To Prevent

The US CDC advised people to avoid:

• contact with people who have symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash
• contact with blood and other body fluids or objects that are contaminated with them
• visiting healthcare facilities in the affected areas for nonurgent medical care or for non-medical reasons. Avoid visiting traditional healers in the affected areas
• contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies
• participating in funeral or burial practices that involve touching the body of someone who has died
• contact with bats, forest antelopes, nonhuman primates (e.g., monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas), and blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals.
• going into areas where bats live, such as mines or caves.

In case of infection, the CDC advises:

• Monitoring for symptoms of BVD while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving.
• If you develop fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness)
• Isolate immediately
• Do not travel.
• Contact local health authorities

Even as the world is still grappling with the news of a hantavirus and two separate norovirus outbreaks, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) today confirmed that the Ebola virus has resurfaced in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for the 17th time.

In a statement, the Africa CDC reported that there are 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, mainly in the mining areas of Mongwalu and Rwampara, about 100 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Bunia.

While tests are being carried out to identify the strain of the virus, early indications suggest the strain is not the Zaire variant, which has been responsible for several previous outbreaks in the country, the health officials said.

The Ebola Zaire strain was prominent in Congo’s past outbreaks, including the 2018 to 2020 outbreak in the eastern region that killed more than 1,000 people.

Ebola: 17th outbreak in DR Congo

Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in the DR Congo. This is the 17th outbreak of the deadly viral disease in the country.

As per preliminary tests conducted at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the country's capital, Kinshasa, the Ebola virus has been detected in 13 of 20 samples analysed, following consultations with DR Congo's Ministry of Health and National Public Institute.

Of the 65 deaths, four were reported among lab-confirmed cases, Africa CDC said.

Additional suspected cases have also been reported in Ituri's provincial capital, Bunia, a densely populated urban centre near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, raising fears of regional transmission.

All affected communities and at-risk areas have been advised to follow guidelines from the national health authorities.

Also read: More Americans Exposed To Hantavirus; 41 Under Monitoring, Says CDC

What Is Ebola Virus Disease?

As per the WHO, Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare but severe illness in humans and is often fatal.

People can get infected with the virus if they touch an infected animal when preparing food, or touch body fluids of an infected person, such as saliva, urine, feces, or semen, or things that have body fluids of an infected person, like clothes or sheets.

How Does Transmission Work?

Read More: Another Norovirus Outbreak Confirmed Aboard Cruise Ship In France; Over 1,700 People Trapped

Ebola enters the body through cuts in the skin or when one touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and headache.

It is a highly infectious and transmissible disease; in fact, there have been cases of healthcare workers who have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola. This occurs through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not practiced strictly.

Cases of people conducting burial ceremonies, involving direct contact with the body of the deceased, can lead to the transmission of Ebola. Even after the long suffering and recovery, there is a possibility of sexual transmission. Pregnant women who get acute Ebola and recover may still carry the virus in their breastmilk or in pregnancy-related fluids and tissues.

Symptoms include:

• feeling tired
• headache
• muscle and joint pain
• eye pain and vision problems
• weight gain
• belly pain and loss of appetite
• hair loss and skin problems
• trouble sleeping
• memory loss
• hearing loss
• depression and anxiety.

Is There Any Vaccine for Ebola?

According to the WHO, there are two vaccines against the Ebola virus. But both the Merck-developed Ervebo vaccine, administered in one dose, and Johnson & Johnson-developed Zabdeno and Mvabea vaccine, administered in a two-dose regimen, target Zaire ebolavirus.

The Ervebo vaccine is recommended for use in outbreak settings and is currently the only vaccine available in the global stockpile.