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

In a surprising video, a woman who ordered a tub of Kwality Wall's Frozen Dessert - Fruit & Nut in Rajasthan found the bottom of the container filled mostly with oil, raising questions about the quality of the product.

In the clip, the distressed customer was heard saying: "It is not even melting and has a weird flavor. I am never eating this ice cream again. I have asked my husband not to purchase this again. It was my favourite ice cream, but now I feel very disappointed."

However, after the post went viral, many X users pointed out that the brand sells frozen dessert, instead of ice cream and that frozen dessert contains palm oil which could explain why she found oil floating inside the container.

What Did Kwality Wall's Say?

As the video continued to go viral across the country, an official spokesperson of Kwality Walls India Limited confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the product's quality.

Speaking about what could have gone wrong, they told NDTV: "Given that ice cream/frozen dessert requires a continuous cold chain from factory to outlet and then to the freezer at consumers' homes, and as it is a sensitive product, temperature variations-especially during peak summer-can impact it.

"We are closely examining all stages of the supply chain for any deviations in storage or handling at the front end. We continue to work with our partners to ensure strict adherence to temperature-controlled protocols until the product reaches consumers' homes."

READ MORE: Zepto Customer Claims To Find 'Plastic' Inside Eggs, FSSAI Says Impossible

Frozen Desserts vs Ice Cream

Ice cream is essentially defined a frozen food dessert made from dairy products, such as milk and cream. For a product to qualify as ice cream, it has to contain atleast 10 percent milk fat and have a rich, creamy texture.

Often, natural color is used in ice cream to enhance its visual appeal, maintaining a healthier alternative to artificial dyes. The process involves churning a sweetened mixture of cream, milk, and flavors while freezing, incorporating air to create a light and airy consistency.

On the other hand, frozen desserts are typically made of a mixture of fats (vegetable oil or milk fat), sweeteners (sugar, glucose), milk solids and stabilizers/emulsifiers to create a smooth, creamy texture. They include diverse range of options, from fruit-based sorbets to creamy non-dairy alternatives.

Unlike ice creams, frozen desserts often use vegetable fats like palm oil, along with additives to manage texture and hold their shape longer when melting, and often have higher stabilizer content.

Due to being made from hydrogenated vegetable oils as well as are high in added sugars, saturated fats and processed ingredients, most frozen desserts are not considered healthy.

While some options have lower calories or fat than traditional ice cream, they are considered ultra-processed treats.

Experts recommend looking for fewer ingredients, less sugar, and dairy-based rather than palm-oil-based options as well as opting for single-serve items like small bars or cups to avoid overeating to stay healthy.

From higher costs on syringes, catheters, and MRIs, to medical supply shortages and longer wait times, the increasing geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, which is likely to prolong, can spell trouble for the healthcare industry.

Amid a 48-hour "ultimatum" from US President Donald Trump to "fully open" the crucial waterway, Iran on Sunday said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except that of its “enemies”.

The ongoing conflict has already spiked prices for medical devices—specifically plastics for syringes and catheters – due to the rising cost of raw materials. If disruptions persist, it can also warn of potential shortages, experts told HealthandMe.

In a statement, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) noted that the medical device input costs have already risen by nearly 50 percent for critical plastics, over 20 percent for packaging, and self-generated power running on diesel. It noted that PNG gas prices used for power generation and process heating have nearly doubled due to reduced availability.

This is eroding razor-thin margins on essentials like syringes, nitrile gloves, catheters, and plastic disposable medical devices in a highly competitive, volume-driven market.

“A shortage of liquid helium could impact the installation of new MRI scanners, each of which requires around 1,500 liters for the initial magnet fill. Supply disruptions linked to the war may delay new installations and push up costs, as helium prices are likely to rise amid tighter availability,” Dr. Harsh Mahajan, Mentor FICCI & Founder Mahajan Imaging & Labs, told HealthandMe.

Also read: Middle East Crisis Disrupting Health Services, Fueling Diseases & Environmental Hazards: WHO

Hormuz Blockade: No Shortage Now

The expert noted that there is no immediate concern for existing MRI machines.

It is because most currently installed scanners use K4 technology with zero boil-off systems, allowing them to operate efficiently without frequent helium refills.

“Typically, a top-up is needed only once every three years, when the magnet’s cold head is replaced. As a result, the existing installed base is expected to continue functioning without disruption in the near term,” Dr. Mahajan said.

According to experts, while one to three week shipment delays are manageable via buffers, prolonged disruptions risk production halts, hospital shortages, and costs due to inflated prices from market abuse by dominant large raw materials players.

Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD, has assured that “as of now, there are no shortages of syringes or other medical disposables, contrary to circulating rumors—there is no need to panic”.

While many manufacturers have adjusted product pricing by 10-20 percent to sustain operations, there is no acute shortage in key polymer grades like Polypropylene, HDPE, or LDPE, he added.

Also read: Black Rain Over Iran's Capital Tehran Sparks Health Fears

Long-term Hormuz Blockade Can Affect Critical Medical Supplies

However, the rapidly deteriorating situations and a longer blockade of Hormuz can lead to “substantial price increases, longer lead times, and highly elevated freight costs, which are pressuring cost structures and planning cycles”.

Nath said evolving global supply chain dynamics require close monitoring to prevent impacts on production timelines and industry stability.

The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) also warned that the ongoing US/Israel-Iran conflict and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz directly threaten India’s access to critical and life-saving medical technologies.

"Modern healthcare systems operate on just-in-time inventory models with minimal buffer stock. When large consignments - like those shipped by sea - are delayed or stranded, there is simply not enough inventory in the system to compensate, even through costlier alternatives like air freight," Pavan Choudary, Chairman, MTaI, told HealthandMe.

He also noted that shipment delays beyond March 31 can lead to "budget lapse, forcing a fresh approval cycle - thereby compounding delays that often stretch to months".

It is because many public institutions in India front-load procurement toward the financial year-end.

The industry experts urged the government to take urgent action to safeguard over 5 lakh jobs, ensure affordable healthcare access under Atmanirbhar Bharat, and protect exports to the US and EU.

The AiMeD also urged the Indian government not to reduce import duties on medical devices based on rumors of shortages.

Kerala is yet again in the grip of a deadly and highly contagious disease. This time, a fresh outbreak of Shigella (caused by the bacteria shigellosis) has been reported in the southern state’s Kozhikode district.

Shigella is a fast-spreading bacterium that causes diarrhea, which in some cases can lead to complications including arthritis, kidney damage , and death.

In the Kozhikode, Kerala outbreak, at this time, 51 people are under observation, 12 have developed the illness, and one child of three and a half years has died.

The child, who had been undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, passed away on Sunday after suffering from high fever and seizures.

Health officials in the state have identified at least 11 more children who had come into contact with the girl and were subsequently infected.

Around five more children are currently under close observation in various hospitals, with doctors monitoring symptoms and preventing further complications, Onmanorama reported. The health authorities are also investigating whether adults in the area may have contracted the infection, raising concerns about a broader community spread.

As a precautionary measure, the Anganwadi center has been temporarily shut down to prevent further spread of the fatal infection.

Shigella: Why Are Young Children At High Risk?

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, explained that even a small number of bacteria—as few as 10 —is enough to cause infection.

It is because the Shigellosis bacteria “is able to withstand the hostile acidic environment of the human stomach. Outside the human body, it can stay alive in water for weeks together,” he said.

Shigella is most severe in children below the age of five, as their immune systems are less efficient at clearing the infection early.

“Adults also become ill, but acquired immunity from childhood keeps the infection mild in many instances,” the expert said.

Shigella Outbreak: How Does It Spread? What Are The Symptoms?

Shigella spreads through:

• touching contaminated surfaces or objects
• physical contact with an infected individual
• drinking contaminated water or ice made from unclean water

The expert noted that houseflies can also spread the bacteria.

Flies transmit the bacteria from human feces to food, water, and surfaces, contributing to up to 37 percent of cases in some regions, according to a study published in the PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The disease onset occurs typically within 1 to 3 days of ingestion of the bacteria, with fever, diarrhea, body aches, and headache.

Once it involves the large intestine, bloody diarrhea occurs, with severe abdominal cramps.

Shigella: How To Prevent

Dr. Jayadevan said. stressed the need for early recognition and treatment with appropriate antibiotics.

ORS can help prevent dehydration, while Zinc tablets can enhance recovery.

Other measures to prevent the risk of spread include:

• Washing hands with soap and water, especially before touching food and also after toilet use
• Food handlers must maintain hygiene
• Control flies

“A multipronged approach is required, involving sustained sanitation measures and strict attention to clean drinking water supplies, to prevent such outbreaks,” the expert said.