After mpox outbreak, Africa is under the threat of yet another virus outbreak, this is the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda. So far, six people have died from the outbreak, confirmed the health minister. Most victims were the healthcare workers in the hospital's intensive care unit. As per reports, 20 cases have been identified since the outbreak was confirmed on Friday.

What Is Marbug Virus?

With the fatality rate of 8% it is the same virus family as Ebola. The main carrier is from fruit bats which spreads to humans then through the contact of bodily fluids of infected individuals, it spreads to others.

Common Signs And Symptoms

The common signs and symptoms of the Marburg virus include fever, pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and in the case of extreme blood loss, death too can happen.

So far, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus. However, treatments like drugs and immune therapy are being developed as per the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Call Of Action

Rwanda says that it has intensified its contact tracing, surveillance and testing to contain the spread. It has also tracked about 300 people who had come into contact with individuals affected by the Marburg virus.

The health minister has urged people to stay vigilant and avoid any physical contact and to wash their hands with clean water, soap or sanitiser and report any suspected case.

As of now, most of the cases have spread to the capital in Kigali. In light of this, the US Embassy in the city has advised its employees to work remotely for the next week.

This is the first time Rwanda has confirmed for Marburg cases, before this, in 2023, Tanzania confirmed the outbreak, whereas three people had died of this in Uganda in 2017.

History Of Marburg

As per WHO, this virus kills half of the people it infects. In the previous outbreaks, it has killed between 24% to 88% of the patients.

The virus was first detected in 1976 after 31 people were infected, out of which 7 died in simultaneous outbreak in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade in Serbia.

The source was traced to African green monkeys who were imported from Uganda. However, other animals too are linked to the virus spread, including bats.

In the past, the virus outbreaks have happened in countries like Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. In 2005, this virus killed 300 people in Angola.

However, for the rest of the world, only two people have died from the virus in the rest of the world, with one of them being in Europe, and the other in the US. These both have been on expeditions to caves in Uganda.

Doctors in Texas are seeing otherwise healthy young and middle-aged workers getting diagnosed with severe kidney disease and, in some cases, reaching kidney failure without the diabetes, high blood pressure or any other long-standing condition that commonly damage the kidneys.

The condition doctors suspect is chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology, or CKDu, a form of kidney disease that has been documented for decades among agricultural and manual workers in hot regions of Central America, Sri Lanka and India. Recent reports suggest similar cases may be going unrecognised in the US, particularly among vulnerable migrant workers.

What Is CKDu?

CKDu is a condition in which a person's kidney function progressively declines without the usual causes of chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are among the biggest causes of kidney disease globally. But CKDu presents differently as it been reported predominantly in relatively young workers who may have neither condition.

The disease can damage the kidney's filtering and tubular structures and gradually reduce its ability to remove waste and regulate fluids and electrolytes.

Currently, there are no specific tests or treatment options to tackle CKDu. Doctors generally investigate and rule out other causes of kidney damage while considering a person's occupation and environmental exposures.

Also read: Dialysis Demystified: When Is It Necessary, How Does It Work And Can It Be Avoided?

Young Workers Are At Risk

Geographical location is one of the strongest clues that helps doctors confirm CKDu diagnosis. In Central America, the disease has been particularly associated with people doing strenuous agricultural work in hot and humid conditions.

Similar concerns have emerged among outdoor workers in Texas, including people working in construction, roofing and other physically demanding jobs.

Repeated heat stress and dehydration are among the leading suspected contributors. When someone repeatedly loses large amounts of fluid through sweating and does not adequately replace it, the kidneys can come under considerable stress.

Researchers are also investigating whether pesticides, contaminated water, heavy metals, infections and frequent use of painkillers like NSAIDs could contribute. However, the definite cause of CKDu still remains unknown.

Also read: Cefepime: Antibiotic Used For Pneumonia, UTI Linked To Higher Death Risk In Adults

CKDu Remains Silent Until Significant Kidney Damage Has Occured

CKDu can be particularly dangerous because people may have few obvious symptoms during the early stages. Many affected workers discover the problem through blood or urine tests rather than because they feel seriously ill.

By the time symptoms like severe fatigue, weakness, nausea, sleep problems or breathlessness develop, kidney function may already be substantially reduced.

A US study based on patients receiving emergency dialysis at a Texas county hospital found that 17% had clinically diagnosed, suspected or possible CKDu-related kidney failure.

Climate Change Could Be Another Contributing Factor

Researchers are increasingly looking into the connection between extreme heat and kidney health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says CKDu has emerged mainly among agricultural workers in hot, humid regions and notes that rising global temperatures could increase exposure to severe occupational heat stress.

But scientists are still trying to determine exactly how heat, dehydration and other workplace exposures interact to result in last-stage kidney failure. That uncertainty is one reason why CKDu remains such a difficult disease to study.

A 2026 International Society of Nephrology report noted that proposed causes such as heat stress may contribute to kidney injury without necessarily explaining exactly how the disease begins.

US President Donald Trump wants his administration to gain greater control over how billions of dollars in biomedical research funding are distributed. He recently proposed new board that could have the power to veto individual grants of National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The proposal, drafted by Budget Director Russell Vought, emerged after a White House meeting was held on September 18, according to the latest reports. The proposed board would include Vought and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, whose unanimous agreement will reportedly be required for grants.

The plan is just a proposal and has not yet been formally issued, and details of its structure and authority could change.

Current Process Of Distributing NIH Grants

The NIH financially back research into cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases, neurological disorders and many other serious conditions. Its current grant process relies heavily on scientific peer review, in which experts evaluate applications for scientific merit before funding decisions are made.

NIH says its peer-review system is intended to provide “fair, independent, expert, and timely scientific reviews” and to prevent funding decisions being coloured from inappropriate influence.

At the second stage, advisory councils made up of scientists and public representatives review applications and provide recommendations.

The institute or centre director currently makes the final funding decision, taking those recommendations and other factors into account. The proposed system could introduce another layer of political oversight above that process that could significantly influence how funds are allocated to research.

Also read: Donald Trump Wants Childhood Vaccines Split Into 5 Shots To Prevent Autism: But Is There Evidence?

Trump Administration Opposes Funding For 'Woke' Research

The administration has argued that federal research funding should better reflect its policy priorities and that some previous grants supported research it considers misaligned with those priorities.

At the White House meeting, Vought reportedly criticised the NIH for funding what he described as “woke” initiatives that conflicted with Trump's goals.

The administration has also argued that changes to research funding are needed to improve oversight and ensure taxpayer money supports what it considers scientifically sound and nationally relevant research.

Also read: Trump Nominates Dr Nicole Saphier As Third Surgeon General Pick

What Could The Proposed Board Change?

According to the reports, the board could review NIH grant awards and block funding that does not align with the administration's priorities. That would represent a significant change from a system in which scientific review is central to determining which research proposals are eligible for funding.

The NIH has already undergone changes to its grant process under the Trump administration. Separately, the White House has proposed more rules that would give political authorities greater power over federal grants across government agencies and sideline scientific peer review advisory.

NIH's Stance

The NIH has not confirmed the details of the proposed board. In a statement reported by The New York Times, NIH spokesperson Joshua Pradko said, “N.I.H. remains committed to its mission of funding biomedical research to benefit the health of the American people.”

Responding to reports that Vought wanted to rescind NIH funding, Pradko also said, “There will be no rescissions to N.I.H. grant monies. All N.I.H. grant monies will be spent.”

The NIH is currently dealing with a record number of applications. More than 40,000 grant applications have been received for the January 2027 council round, according to an NIH update issued September 18.

Commonly known as the ‘morning-after pill’, emergency contraceptive pills will soon be sold with prominent warnings on packs.

The Union Health Ministry has proposed bringing levonorgestrel 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg emergency contraceptive tablets under Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, with mandatory warnings on their packaging and package inserts. The draft notification was issued on September 3 and is currently open to public objections and suggestions.

The proposed warnings are intended to make it clear that the pills are meant only for emergency contraception and that they are not a regular contraceptive method.

They will also indicate that they are not abortion pills and do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. They would also warn that frequent use can lead to side effects and advise women seeking regular contraception to consult a healthcare professional.

What Do Emergency Pills Actually Do?

Levonorgestrel is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. When taken as emergency contraception, it primarily works by delaying or preventing ovulation, meaning it can prevent an egg from being released when sperm are present.

It is intended to be taken after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, such as a broken condom. The World Health Organization recommends levonorgestrel emergency contraception as a single 1.5 mg dose, or 0.75 mg in two doses 12 hours apart. It works best when taken as soon as possible and can be used within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse.

Crucially, it does not terminate an established pregnancy. That is why it should not be confused with medication used for medical abortion.

Also read: Exclusive With Leading HIV Expert: What's Driving Rising HIV Cases Among India's Youth And How To Prevent It

Emergency Pills Cannot Protect Against STIs

One of the proposed warnings is meant to addresses a common misconception about emergency contraceptive pills prevents pregnancy, not sexually transmitted infections.

It is important to under stand that levonorgestrel does not protect against HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia or other STIs. Sexually transmitted infections can be prevented by barrier methods like condoms, when used correctly.

The proposed Indian warning specifically states that emergency contraceptive pills “do not offer any protection against HIV or any sexually transmitted infections.”

Also read: 5 Reasons To Get Regular STI Testing If You’re 'Sexually Active'

Reason Behind The Move

The move follows recommendations from the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) after an expert review of contraceptive use in India.

Minutes of the 67th Drugs Consultative Committee meeting recorded recommendations for the package warnings stating that levonorgestrel emergency contraceptives should not be used more than twice a month, that they do not protect against HIV or STIs, and that alternative contraception should be considered with a registered medical practitioner.

The latest draft notification also states that frequent use “may lead to side effects” and encourages women to seek medical advice. However, this does not mean emergency contraception is considered inherently unsafe.

The WHO says side effects like nausea, vomiting, fatigue and temporary menstrual changes are generally mild and can be resolved without treatment. It also states that emergency contraceptive pills do not cause any harm to fertility.

The concern is instead about using an emergency method as a substitute for regular contraception. Repeated use can lead to menstrual irregularities and side effects.

The proposal would place levonorgestrel 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg tablets under Schedule K, while retaining their availability without a prescription. The draft is therefore not supposed to make morning-after pills prescription-only.