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.
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.
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.
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.
Credit: CDC
Almost all states in the US are reporting a growing summer wave of COVID-19 cases, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While the numbers aren’t especially high and there aren’t many hospitalizations or deaths, the test positivity rate for the week ending August 8 rose above 3% for the first time since March, with numbers climbing in every state. Emergency department visits related to COVID-19 are also “very low.”
Wastewater Data Offers Closer Look At COVID Activity
According to the CDC, wastewater data can be a key tool for tracking where the virus may be circulating. Testing sewage can detect the presence of COVID-19 in a community and “can pick up signs of infection even from people who feel perfectly healthy,” the CDC said.
COVID-19 Activity By State
“It is going up. We don’t know how to describe these numbers that we’re seeing in terms of what the denominator is anymore,” Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, told the media.
“Now we just know when we get a positive test, and we don’t even have clinical data sometimes to put that in context.”
‘August Is Solidly Covid Season’
“August is solidly Covid season,” Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an expert in outbreak science and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health and Security, told CNN.
“Right now, the South and the West are sort of the leading edge of this Covid season. In the past, it almost always starts in Florida, Texas and Georgia, which is exactly what we’re seeing this year.”
Who Is At Higher Risk?
COVID-19 can still be serious and even deadly, especially for people who remain vulnerable to severe disease. These include:
How To Prevent COVID-19?
To reduce the risk of infection, people should:
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or breathlessness should get tested and seek timely medical advice.
If you didn’t get a COVID-19 vaccine last year, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting one, including the vaccine formulated for last season, Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of health for the New York State Department of Health, told CNN.
Credit: Chester Zoo
In a world first, a 15-foot reticulated python named Jodie Foster has successfully undergone electrochemotherapy, a pioneering cancer treatment usually used in humans.
The reticulated python is a species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the world’s longest snake and the third heaviest.
The 50kg python, named Jodie Foster after the Hollywood star, underwent the treatment after being diagnosed with fibrosarcoma, a malignant tumor, in her jaw. The tumor was initially removed through surgery but later returned and began invading her jawbone.
“Months later, 50kg Jodie Foster is cancer-free and back to her usual ‘bright and feisty’ self,” Chester Zoo in the UK said in a statement.
Keepers became concerned when Jodie started eating less and became more inactive. Tests confirmed a fibrosarcoma in her jaw. Vets initially removed the tumor through surgery.
Tests confirmed she had a fibrosarcoma, a malignant tumor, in her jaw. Although vets initially removed the tumor, it later returned and started destroying part of her jawbone. Doctors feared further surgery alone would not be enough and that the tumor could eventually make it difficult for her to eat.
“We were facing the possibility of losing her as the tumor made it more and more difficult for her to eat, so we worked with cancer specialists to see whether we could adapt electrochemotherapy for a snake," said Ian Ashpole, Veterinary Officer at Chester Zoo :
“As far as we're aware, this is the first time it's ever been used in one," Ashpole added.
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With no operating table large enough for a python of Jodie's size, the veterinary team had to improvise.
For the operation that lasted 90 minutes, Jodie was first anaesthetized in her habitat before being taken to the veterinary center.
Two operating tables were placed together to create a surface roughly the size of a double bed. Heated blankets and warm air were also used to keep her body temperature stable.
Dr. Ashpole first removed the tumor and performed a hemi-mandibulectomy, removing part of the diseased jawbone. Electrochemotherapy was then used to target any remaining cancer cells.

According to Cancer Research UK, electrochemotherapy combines chemotherapy with small electrical pulses.
It is used to treat some cancers that begin in the skin or have spread to the skin. However, its use in Jodie Foster marks a world first in veterinary medicine for a snake.
“Electrochemotherapy is an emerging treatment, and this was the first time it had been used in a snake,” said Jose Alvares Picornell, Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, who was part of the three-hour-long surgery.
The treatment combines the cancer drug bleomycin with carefully controlled electrical pulses delivered directly to the tumor site.
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Despite losing part of her jawbone, Jodie's appetite and hunting ability have not been affected, the Zoo officials said, adding that she continues to strike, grip and swallow food without difficulty.
Months of observation have shown no problems with feeding, and a final check confirmed that she remains free of signs of the cancer returning. The officials added that Jodie is eating normally, exploring her habitat and behaving as usual.
“Seeing her back to her normal bright and feisty self has been incredibly rewarding. A few months ago, we genuinely didn't know whether she'd survive," Dr Ashpole added.
Credit: iStock
Delhi is witnessing a significant rise in influenza A H1N1 infections, with the cumulative tally reportedly reaching 1,777.
As per National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) data, Delhi recorded 1,449 H1N1 cases up to August 12, more than six times the 229 cases reported during the same period last year. Mumbai and Bengaluru are also reporting a sharp rise in cases.
Amid the rise, Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed preparedness, including:
The “situation is being closely and continuously monitored”, said Nadda. The Health Minister also emphasized continued vigilance, robust surveillance and proactive preparedness, along with respiratory and hand hygiene.
People with persistent or severe respiratory symptoms, breathing difficulty or other warning signs were advised to seek medical attention promptly.
The Health Ministry is coordinating with States/UTs, hospitals, laboratories and other stakeholders for early detection, timely clinical management and effective surveillance of seasonal influenza, including H1N1.
Doctors Flag Atypical H1N1 Symptoms
Dr. Atul Kakkar, Senior Consultant and Head of Department, Internal Medicine, Sir Gangaram Hospital, told HealthandMe that H1N1 cases are significantly higher than last year, possibly partly due to seasonal changes.
Most patients are presenting with flu-like symptoms, cold, cough, body aches, and upper respiratory tract infections.
However, doctors are also seeing atypical symptoms.
“We are seeing patients having diarrhea also and myalgias, which are getting very, very frequent.”
Patients at extreme ages are more prone to complications and may require oxygen, high-flow oxygen, NIV or BiPAP, he said.
Those at higher risk include people who are unvaccinated against flu, patients undergoing chemotherapy, and those with COPD, bronchial asthma, cancer or on immunosuppressive treatment.
“Evidence shows early antiviral treatment reduces complications and hospital stay, so we must expand rapid diagnostic capacity across primary care centres and ensure affordable antivirals are available at the point of care,” Dr. Sabine Kapasi, Global Health Strategist and UN Advisor, told HealthandMe.
What Is H1N1?
H1N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus. Common symptoms include:
The virus mainly spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Children can also spread the virus before they realize they are sick.
Red-flag symptoms include:
As per experts, H1N1 infection may also be associated with cardiovascular complications, including:
Dr. Saurabh Gupta, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, Yashoda Medicity, said H1N1 may cause fluctuations in heart rhythm or inflammation involving the heart.
“Those with pre-existing heart conditions should be more vigilant whilst they’re recuperating. As the infection puts more work on the body, you can find that previous heart problems are more noticeable,” he added.
People recovering from H1N1 should seek medical attention if they develop:
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