On Thursday, Uganda confirmed an outbreak of the Ebola virus in its capital city Kampala, with the first confirmed patient dying from it a day before. As per the new developments, the officials are now preparing to deploy a trial vaccine to put an end to this outbreak.

Groups of scientists are working on the vaccine and deployment of more than 2,000 doses of a candidate vaccine against the Sudan strain of Ebola has been planned and confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has access to 2,169 doses of trial vaccine. For now, however, there are no approved vaccines for the strain and officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak.

The WHO had also allocated $1 million from its contingency fund for emergencies to support quick action and contain the outbreak in the country.

Confirmed Case

On Wednesday, the Sudan strain of Ebola killed a nurse employed at Kampala's main referral hospital. It is after his death that Ebola was declared an outbreak in the country. Post-mortem samples too have confirmed the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease and at least 44 contacts of the deceased man have been listed for tracing. 30 of these are health workers.

Ebola is a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and tissue. Symptoms include headache, vomiting of blood, muscle pains and bleeding.

it was in the late 2022, when Uganda had last suffered an Ebola outbreak. It killed 55 of the 143 people who were infected and was declared over on January 11, 2023.

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, faeces or semen, or things that have body fluids of an infected person like clothes or sheets.

How Does Transmission Work?

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

It was first discovered in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreak, when in Nzara, South Sudan and other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred near a village near the Ebola River, which is where it gets its name from.

It is highly infectious and transmissible disease, in fact, there have been cases of health-care 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 conducted burial ceremonies, involving direct contact with the body of the deceased too 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:

• 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

The legalisation of recreational marijuana in the United States may have led to increase in hospitalisations for multiple cardiovascular hospitalisations, including heart attacks, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, according to a new study published in BMJ Open.

Researchers studied more than 50 million hospital records from 2012 to 2018 and compared cardiovascular hospitalisation patterns in the western United States, where recreational cannabis sales began earlier, with trends in other regions.

They found that hospital admissions for three cardiovascular conditions increased faster in the West after legalisation, sparking questions about the health consequences of legalising recreational marijuana.

The study, titled Cannabis legalisation and cardiovascular hospitalisations in the United States: nationwide difference-in-differences analysis, 2012–2018, was led by Samuel D. Slavin and colleagues.

It analysed records of hospitalisations for acute heart failure, heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic stroke, venous thromboembolism and ventricular tachycardia.

Cardiovascular Hospitalisations Increased After Marijuana Legalisation

Also read: Trump Administration Reclassifies Marijuana As A Schedule 3 Drug, Moving It Closer To Prescription Painkillers

The analysis found that, for each additional year of recreational cannabis sales in the western region, hospitalisation rates rose faster than in other regions for these three heart conditions:

• Atrial fibrillation: approximately 2.3% faster per year.
• Heart failure: approximately 3.7% faster per year.
• Heart attacks: approximately 3.1% faster per year.

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can increase the risk of stroke. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs, while a heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.

Hospitalisation rates for the other conditions also increased, but the differences were not as significant. The researchers say that their study addresses a gap in existing research.

“While several studies have examined the association of recreational cannabis legalisation on psychiatric conditions, substance use, emergency visits, and traffic accidents, ours is the first study to examine the association with cardiovascular hospitalisations,” they wrote.

Cannabis And Heart Health

Cannabis contains compounds that can affect the cardiovascular system. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), its main psychoactive component, can increase heart rate and affect blood pressure.

Researchers have also examined links between cannabis use, blood vessel function and blood clot formation. However, cardiovascular effects may vary depending on the product, frequency of use and method of consumption.

The study suggests that legalisation may have wider health implications because it can change the availability and use of cannabis products across a population. However, the researchers did not directly state that cannabis use caused the hospitalisations observed.

The findings show an association between legalisation and changing hospitalisation trends, not cause and effect proof.

The analysis compared regional hospitalisation patterns rather than tracking individual cannabis users. Researchers could not distinguish between different methods of cannabis consumption, examine trends separately for each state or fully account for changes in illegal cannabis use.

The authors said, “While an observational study cannot prove causality, our findings point to potential adverse effects of recreation legalisation on population health.”

They added, “Globally, our findings support a cautious approach to legalisation laws accompanied by data collection on [cardiovascular] outcomes.”

A research team in Switzerland, including Indian scientists, has developed an USB-sized electric implantable device that lowers blood sugar by converting excess glucose into a substance the body can eliminate.

The technology, tested in mice with diabetes and obesity, may offer a new way to managing blood glucose without relying on insulin or other glucose-lowering drugs, sparking hope for people with diabetes to live drug-free, healthier lives.

The findings were published in the journal Science on October 22, 2026, in a study titled Wireless Electrocatalytic Closed-Loop System for Drug-Free Management of Diabetes.

The research was spearheaded by Martin Fussenegger, professor of biotechnology and bioengineering, ETH Zurich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering.

Fussenegger described the approach as a departure from conventional diabetes treatment.

“For decades, we have treated diabetes by telling the body how to manage glucose. We are now showing that we can take control of glucose directly, using electronics rather than drugs,” he told Science. “And the catalyst only activates when glucose levels are too high.”

Also read: Is ‘Ozempic Face’ Influencing The Beauty Industry? Global Cosmetic Brand Highlights A New Trend Amid GLP-1 Boom

How Does The Electric Implant Work?

The device, called ECHO (Electrocatalytic Closed-loop Health Optimization), uses a catalyst made from graphite felt, gold nanoclusters and tiny platinum particles which is powered electrically.

Unlike treatment methods that use living cells or enzymes, this device uses an electrochemical reaction to get rid of excess glucose.

“The drug-free mode of action is relevant because current pharmacological therapies can be limited by adverse effects, tolerability, adherence, cost, and unresolved long-term safety questions,” the researchers wrote in Science.

When activated, the catalyst converts glucose into gluconate, a substance that the body can process and eliminate through urine. This removes some glucose from the body's normal metabolic process.

The implant works with a glucose monitor that tracks glucose levels continuously. When readings increase beyond a certain limit, the sensor communicates with a smartphone or control unit, which wirelessly activates the implant. The system switches off when glucose levels return to normal.

“At the current stage of the technology, we’ve demonstrated through lab experiments glucose clearance in approximately five litres of liquid, comparable to the typical blood volume in an adult human,” Maity, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, told The Telegraph.

Also read: High-Fibre Diet Outperforms Metformin In Blood Sugar Control And Weight Loss, Study Finds

Tested On Diabetic And Obese Mice

In mice with type 2 diabetes and obesity, the implant brought elevated blood glucose into the normal range within an hour of activation. Repeated treatment maintained glucose control for six weeks. The treated mice also showed reductions in body weight and triglyceride levels, without dropping the blood sugar excessively.

Fussenegger said the device operated at a low voltage, adding, “Our experiments showed no evidence of tissue damage from either electrical or thermal effects.

Maity said, "These are proof-of-concept experiments in lab mice. We would need to refine the technology and make the device even smaller before human trials."

José M. Ordovás, a senior scientist at Tufts University who was not involved in the research, described the work as an “ingenious and well-developed piece of work as a proof of concept.”

He also said that the small animal study cannot capture the complexity of diabetes and obesity in humans. Long-term safety and the effects of gluconate processing, especially in people with poor kidney function, need more research.

What Happens Next?

The researchers have not tested the implant in humans yet. So its safety, effectiveness and durability in people still remain unknown. The kidneys' ability to eliminate gluconate will also be an important factor in future research.

Maity said that future research will focus on making the implant smaller and integrating it with an electrical power source like a wireless charging system and a glucose device that monitors blood sugar levels continuously.

Around 450 people in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh have received anti-rabies vaccinations after consuming charanamrit prepared with milk from a cow suspected of being rabid. The animal died after exhibiting unusual behaviour, which sparked concern among residents of two villages who may have consumed milk from the same cow.

The health department organised a vaccination camp in Dadi Khas village, in the Gola block of Gorakhpur, on October 21. Officials said around 50 people received the vaccine on Tuesday, followed by another 400 during the camp on Wednesday.

450 People In UP Consume Milk From A Suspected Rabid Cow

The incident came to light after the cow's condition deteriorated and the animal died on Tuesday evening. According to its owner, Navami Yadav, the cow had appeared unwell for one or two days before its condition worsened.

Private veterinarians suspected that a stray dog might have bitten the animal, although they did not confirm if the animal had rabies.

The cow's milk had reportedly been supplied to two shops and various households, extending concern beyond those who consumed charanamrit during Durga Puja.

Residents of Dadi Khas and neighbouring Govindpur village were among those affected by the concern over possible exposure.

A health department team led by pharmacist Siddharth Singh visited the village and administered the vaccines.

Amarendra Thakur, the in-charge of the community health centre, advised residents concerned about exposure to consult medical professionals and follow the recommended vaccination schedule. He also said arrangements would be made to ensure vaccines remained available at the health centre.

Also read: Decoding Unusual Rabies Symptoms: Why Can Rabies Cause a Fear of Water, Air or Wind?

Can Rabies Spread Through Milk?

The incident has raised questions about whether consuming milk from a suspected rabid animal can transmit the infection.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is mostly transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a bite or scratch, or comes into contact with broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.

Dogs account for most human rabies cases worldwide, but other infected mammals, like cattle, can also carry the virus.

However, there is no evidence that rabies is transmitted through the consumption of milk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes preventive treatment after a possible exposure, is not required solely because a person has consumed milk from a rabid animal. The WHO nevertheless advises against consuming milk from animals infected with rabies.

India's National Rabies Control Programme provides similar guidance, stating that there are no evidence-based reports of human rabies arising from consuming milk, including breast milk.

The cow in the UP incident was suspected of having rabies, but it had not been confirmed. But people who have consumed milk from a suspected infected animal should seek exposure advice from a healthcare professional.

According to the WHO, suspected rabies exposure requires prompt assessment because the disease is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms develop, but can be prevented when post-exposure prophylaxis is administered on time. Treatment may involve wound care, course of rabies vaccinations and, rabies immunoglobulin in some cases.