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

One of New York City's most iconic cultural landmarks has unexpectedly become part of an ongoing disease investigation.

Amid the current Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side, the officials flagged Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum after Legionella bacteria was detected in its rooftop cooling tower.

NYC’s Guggenheim Museum Part Of Legionnaires Investigation

While the discovery has raised concerns, authorities stress that the museum has not been identified as the source of the outbreak.

The investigation began after a cluster of Legionnaires' disease cases were reported in the Upper East Side neighborhoods of Carnegie Hill and Yorkville.

Since then, the New York City Department of Health has expanded testing across the area, identifying 31 buildings with cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella bacteria. The world-famous museum is among those properties.

Despite the positive test, officials emphasize that detecting Legionella in a cooling tower does not mean the building caused the outbreak.

Further laboratory testing is required to determine whether the bacteria found in a particular cooling tower genetically match the strain infecting patients, a process that can take several weeks.

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Guggenheim Museum Takes Immediate Action

The museum acted quickly after receiving the test results, disinfecting and cleaning its cooling tower in accordance with city regulations.

Health officials said the building does not pose an ongoing risk to visitors, and the museum has remained open to the public.

A Guggenheim spokesperson said, “The city has confirmed that there is no additional action needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building,” adding that the museum conducts monthly cooling tower testing and treatment.

The spokesperson added, “The safety of our staff and the public are the utmost priority, and we are continuing to follow all city guidelines.”

As per NY Post, at least 46 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires, including 22 who remain hospitalized. New York City Health Commissioner Alister Martin said the bacteria were detected in 31 towers and 19 had already been disinfected.

Martin said, “What we have in front of us is 160 cooling towers across this region that we are looking at, and we are not waiting.”

Why Cooling Towers Are Breeding Grounds For Legionella?

Cooling towers have been recognised as one of the most common sources of large Legionnaires' disease outbreaks as they contain warm water that can allow Legionella bacteria to thrive.

Fans in these systems can release fine mists into the surrounding air, exposing people nearby if the water becomes contaminated. This is why New York City requires routine inspection, testing and disinfection of cooling towers, regulations that were strengthened following previous outbreaks in the Bronx and Harlem.

Also read: At 2026 NATO Summit, Trump's Neck Rash and Bruised Hand Draw Attention; White House Responds

List of Buildings Infected With Legionella Bacteria

Besides Guggenheim Museum, here are the other prominent buildings that are currently compromised due to Legionnaires' Disease:

• 180 East End Avenue
• 1750 York Avenue
• 1660 Second Avenue
• 1438 Third Avenue
• 1511 Third Avenue
• 1551 Third Avenue
• 1071 Fifth Avenue
• 1080 Fifth Avenue
• 1001 Fifth Avenue
• 240 East 82nd Street
• 8 East 83rd Street
• 145 East 84th Street
• 117 East 85th Street
• 125 East 87th Street
• 152 East 87th Street
• 120 East 87th Street
• 501 East 87th Street
• 168 East 88th Street
• 160 East 88th Street
• 1875 Second Avenue
• 1110 Fifth Avenue
• 153 East 78th Street
• 135 East 79th Street
• 300 East 79th Street
• 238 East 81st Street
• 160 East 84th Street
• 114 East 85th Street
• 401 East 88th Street
• 333 East 91st Street
• 354 East 91st Street
• 312 East 95th Street

About Legionnaires' Disease

Symptoms typically develop two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, muscle aches, chills, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pneumonia.

Health officials continue to investigate the Upper East Side cluster and are urging anyone who visited the affected area and develops flu-like symptoms or pneumonia to seek medical attention promptly.

Martha Lillard, the last person in the United States to rely on an iron lung for breathing, passed away, making the end of a chapter in American medical history that goes back to the devastating polio epidemics of the 20th century.

Martha Lillard’s Demise

According to her kin, Martha Lillard, 78, died on June 26, 2026, at her home in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

She had spent close to 73 years living with the effects of paralytic polio, a disease that permanently damaged the muscles needed for breathing, leaving her dependent on an iron lung, a medical device that has now become obsolete.

According to reports, chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome were listed among the causes of her death. Her family also said she experienced long COVID, which further worsened her lung function, increasing the amount of time she needed to spend inside the iron lung.

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Martha Lillard’s Post-Polio Syndrome

Lillard contracted polio in 1953 when she was just five years old, during one of the worst outbreaks in U.S. history.

Before effective vaccines became available, the virus infected tens of thousands of Americans each year. While many people recovered, some developed paralytic polio, in which the virus attacks the nervous system, leading to paralysis and, in extreme cases, respiratory failure.

Doctors placed Lillard inside an iron lung, a large cylindrical machine that uses negative air pressure to help patients breathe by expanding and contracting the chest.

Although hospitals gradually replaced iron lungs with ventilators in the 1960s, Lillard continued using the ancient device because it proved to be the most effective method of respiratory support for her.

Her family said maintaining the iron lung became increasingly challenging as replacement parts and technicians familiar with the obsolete technology became hard to find. Still, Lillard continued using the machine well into her seventies.

Martha Lillard Refused To Let It Define Her

Despite spending most of her life inside the machine, Lillard refused to let it define her. According to her family members and previous interviews, she attended school from home through an intercom system connected to her classroom.

She also became fond of painting, writing poetry, composing music, and caring for rescued animals. She also volunteered with community organizations, including the Humane Society.

Lillard's passing comes more than 70 years after Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, followed by Albert Sabin's oral vaccine in the early 1960s. Widespread immunisation campaigns in the US significantly polio cases. The epidemic was eliminated from the country in 1979.

As one of the last survivors to depend on an iron lung, Martha Lillard's life serves as a reminder of both the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases and the extraordinary developments made in public health.

At 80, Donald Trump is the oldest person to serve as president of the United States. Scrutiny surrounding his physical and cognitive health has received heightened attention in recent years, particularly following former President Joe Biden's decision to end his 2024 reelection campaign due to age and fitness.

Trump's recent post on Truth Social has sparked concerns about his health again.

Donald Trump’s Physical At Walter Reed

In a recent post, US President Donald Trump said that his latest physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center came out clean, renewing public attention on his health and wellness.

Trump wrote, “I just finished a perfect physical at Walter Reed... I do it every six months, and I requested another Cognitive Test... I aced them all. Got every question right.” He also reiterated that “everything checked out perfectly.”

After Trump's post sparked confusion over whether he had undergone a medical checkup recently, the White House clarified that he was referring to the physical examination conducted in May.

Trump's Official Medical Report

Following the May examination, White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella released a medical memorandum stating: “President Donald Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.”

According to the report:

• Trump scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
• His heart scan reportedly showed no abnormalities.
• Laboratory tests and vital signs were within normal limits.
• Physicians recommended continuing preventive measures, including regular physical activity, weight management, and a low-dose aspirin regimen.

The report noted improvement in previously observed lower-leg swelling associated with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition the White House disclosed last year.

The White House attributed the visible bruises on Trump's hands to frequent handshaking while taking aspirin for cardiovascular prevention. They physician further stated that Trump is currently on medication to manage his cholesterol levels.

“The President remains up to date on all appropriate preventive screenings and immunizations,” Barbabella stated. “Routine cancer screenings, cardiovascular risk assessment, and metabolic evaluations are current and within recommended intervals. Preventive counseling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and continued weight loss.”

Trump’s Health Under Scrutiny

Trump's post come weeks after New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s new discussed concerns raised by some aides about his age, stamina, and endurance. In the post, Trump dismissed those claims, bashing Haberman.

The president's health has also drawn scrutiny in recent months. He was recently seen with a visible neck rash and a bruised right hand that appeared to be covered with makeup during the 2026 NATO Summit in Türkiye.

Trump also appeared unsteady on his feet, particularly while using stairs. During the summit's welcome ceremony, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 72, was seen taking Trump by the arm and guiding him into position.

The White House Dismissed Trump’s Health Concerns

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The White House has repeatedly dismissed concerns, attributing the bruising to the physical demands of Trump's public schedule.

“President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement provided to The Independent. “The President is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history.”

The White House previously said the swelling in his legs was due to chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition affecting blood flow in the legs.