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

An experimental gene therapy has shown tremendous potential in reducing the frequency of seizures in three patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

The results have raised hopes for a new approach to treating epilepsy patients who do not respond to conventional anti-seizure medications.

All three participants experienced a reduction of more than 90% in their monthly seizure frequency after the treatment. No serious side effects were reported during the study.

The results were reported today in The New England Journal of Medicine by Yang Dai, a neurosurgeon at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University in Beijing, and his colleagues.

“It’s exciting that there’s such a dramatic effect, and that they see very few side effects,” says Matthew Walker, a neurologist at University College London who was not associated with the study.

How Does the Experimental Gene Therapy Work?

Also read: TV Actor Anuj Thakur Dies At 33 After Suffering A Seizure In His Sleep: When Can Nocturnal Seizures Turn Fatal

The treatment uses a modified virus called adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) to deliver genetic instructions directly into the part of the brain from where seizures stem.

The virus carries a gene that instructs specific neurons, known as excitatory neurons, to produce a receptor that are sensitive to a particular medication.

Once the gene is delivered, patients take clozapine, which is an antipsychotic medication. The drug activates the receptors, reducing the activity of the neurons and helping suppress the electrical signals that cause seizures.

Researchers describe the medication as a kind of dimmer switch because it allows them to adjust the activity of the genetically modified brain cells.

Unlike conventional gene therapies, this approach gives researchers a way to regulate the treatment using medication.

What Did The Clinical Trial Find?

Also read: Woman With Epilepsy Dies After Following ChatGPT’s Advice To Stop Medication: Why AI Cannot Replace A Doctor

The study was led by neurosurgeon Yang Dai of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, in Beijing.

It involved three adults with drug-resistant epilepsy caused by hippocampal sclerosis, a condition in which scarring develops in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory and seizure activity.

All three participants had experienced epilepsy for 10 to 25 years. Despite trying at least two anti-seizure medications, their seizures still remained out of control.

They also experienced at least two seizures per month on average during the three months before entering the trial.

After gene therapy all three participants saw a reduction of more than 90% in their monthly seizure frequency.

Significant Discovery For People With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Also read: Can ChatGPT Replace Your Doctor? Why Epilepsy Patients Should Never Alter Medication on AI Advice

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Anti-seizure medications can help many people control their seizures. However, some patients continue to experience seizures despite trying multiple medications.

This is known as drug-resistant epilepsy. According to the International League Against Epilepsy, it generally refers to a failure to achieve control of seizure after sufficient trials of two anti-seizure medications.

Surgery may be an option for patients with focal epilepsy if doctors can identify the brain region responsible for seizures.

Limitations Of The Study

The new gene therapy takes a different approach by targeting the neurons responsible for seizures.

However, experts have raised concerns about the long-term use of clozapine. High doses of the drug have been associated with cardiovascular complications and other adverse effects.

Despite the reduction in seizures, researchers have warned against interpreting the findings as proof that the treatment is effective for all people with epilepsy.

The trial involved only three participants, making it too small to probe the treatment’s long-term safety or effectiveness.

All three also had a specific form of epilepsy related to hippocampal scarring on one side of the brain. The findings cannot automatically be applied to people with other forms of epilepsy or seizures originating in different brain regions.

More than a quarter of Americans (28%) misrepresented symptoms to obtain antibiotics for themselves, while 27% did so to get antibiotics for a child in their care, according to an alarming survey.

The nationwide survey of nearly 1,000 people, published in JAMA Network Open, found that common reasons included feeling very sick, believing antibiotics were the only effective treatment and needing to recover quickly to return to work or school.

The findings highlight the need for better communication between doctors and patients so that concerns are heard and symptoms are appropriately treated, whether or not antibiotics are needed.

“Now that we have a clearer picture of how common these behaviors are and the reasons behind them, the next step is to look at strategies that help patients express their preferences and communicate what they’re feeling to their provider, and for their provider to hear them, understand their concerns, and reassure them,” said Alistair Thorpe, research assistant professor of population health sciences at the University of Utah Health and one of the study's first authors.

What Did The Survey Reveal?

Also read: AI-Created Virus Injected Into A Human For The First Time To Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Among respondents, 28% said they had deliberately exaggerated or fabricated symptoms to obtain antibiotics for themselves, while 27% had done so for a child in their care.

The most common reason was feeling that they or their child were very sick and believing antibiotics were the only treatment that could help.

“It is a tough situation,” Thorpe said. “People are experiencing unpleasant symptoms, and they can have this strong feeling that antibiotics are the only thing that can help them feel better. Being told to just rest and wait is a hard thing to do, and if you think there’s something that could make you feel better, it’s a very hard impulse to override.”

Other reasons included needing to recover quickly to return to work or school and wanting greater control over treatment decisions.

Why Is Taking Unnecessary Antibiotics Dangerous?

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but do not work against viral infections, which commonly cause cold- and flu-like symptoms. They can also cause side effects.

“These medications are not totally benign for the patient,” explained Andrea Levy, Professor of social sciences at Connecticut State Community College Middlesex and one of the study's first authors. “And antibiotic use contributes to increasing antimicrobial resistance, which is a broader public health concern.”

Unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making bacterial infections harder to treat.

Accurate symptom reporting is therefore important. Doctors need a clear picture of a patient's symptoms to determine whether antibiotics are necessary and avoid prescribing them when they are unlikely to help.

Read More: 98 Years After Penicillin: Are We Running Out Of Effective Antibiotics?

Why Are Children At High Risk With Antibiotic Misuse?

Children commonly receive antibiotics for infections such as ear infections and respiratory illnesses. However, many childhood infections are caused by viruses, against which antibiotics are ineffective.

Unnecessary antibiotic exposure can cause side effects, including diarrhoea, nausea and allergic reactions. It can also contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making future bacterial infections harder to treat.

Repeated antibiotic use may also disrupt the developing gut microbiome, which plays a role in digestion and immune function.

Why Do Patients Misrepresent Symptoms And How Can It Be Prevented?

The researchers emphasise that the findings are not intended to blame patients or caregivers.

“There are very understandable reasons that we can sympathize with about why patients might feel the need to misrepresent symptoms, or why caregivers might do so on behalf of their children,” Levy said. “We’re simply saying: perhaps there’s a better way.”

Past experiences with healthcare providers may influence these decisions. People were more likely to exaggerate symptoms if a doctor had previously dismissed or downplayed their concerns.

Another factor is the mistaken belief that antibiotics helped someone recover from an earlier viral infection. Since viral infections usually resolve on their own, patients may incorrectly attribute their recovery to antibiotics rather than the body's natural healing process, Thorpe explained.

The findings highlight the need for better communication between doctors and patients.

Healthcare providers need to reassure patients that their symptoms are being heard and taken seriously, even when antibiotics are not appropriate.

Public health officials in Stanislaus County, California, have reported four mpox cases. Two are confirmed as Clade I, while testing is underway for the other two.

Three individuals had no recent international travel history, raising concerns about local transmission. The travel history of the fourth person is still being assessed.

“Historically, Clade I mpox cases in the US were linked to international travel. However, since August 2026, more cases have been reported among people without recent international travel,” health officials said.

The cases suggest possible community transmission. However, county officials say the risk to the general public remains low.

“While we have identified four cases in our county, we want residents to know that the risk to the general public remains low,” Dr. Thea Papasozomenos, Stanislaus County Public Health officer, said.

US Reports Sustained Clade I Mpox Transmission

The Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI), supported by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the CDC's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, has classified the US as being in Scenario 4: Sustained Transmission for Clade I mpox.

This indicates ongoing person-to-person transmission chains in some jurisdictions, primarily among adults with multiple sexual partners, including sex workers and men who have sex with men (MSM).

The CDC reported more than 90 Clade I cases across at least 23 states and Puerto Rico as of October 14, 2026. Domestic transmission had been reported in 10 jurisdictions, with more cases involving people without recent international travel.

Why Is Clade I Mpox A Concern?

Clade I has historically been associated with more severe illness and higher fatality rates than Clade II. Its historical case-fatality rate has been estimated at 1% to 10%, compared with approximately 1% to 4% or lower for Clade II.

The 2024 global outbreak was driven largely by Clade I, particularly the Clade Ib sub-lineage. On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

What Is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same genus as the smallpox virus.

It spreads through close contact with infected people, including skin-to-skin and sexual contact, exposure to sores or bodily fluids, and contaminated items such as bedding and towels. Transmission can also occur through contact with infected animals.

What Are The Symptoms Of Mpox?

Symptoms generally appear 5 to 21 days after exposure and include:

• Skin rash
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle and body aches
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes

Most people recover within two to four weeks. However, severe illness can occur, particularly in children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

How Can Mpox Be Prevented?

Prevention measures include:

• Avoiding contact with potentially infected animals.
• Washing hands frequently.
• Avoiding close contact with infected people and contaminated belongings.
• Isolating infected individuals.
• Getting vaccinated if at increased risk of exposure.

New Mpox Vaccine Shows Promise

The JYNNEOS vaccine is recommended for people at increased risk of mpox exposure.

BNT166a, an mRNA-based mpox vaccine developed by BioNTech, has shown encouraging early results in its first human trial. The vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated, triggering strong antibody responses across all dose levels.