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.

US President Donald Trump was seen struggling to stay alert several times during a three-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Footage showed the 79-year-old president narrowing his eyes again and again and briefly closing them fully, even as Cabinet officials spoke about their work and praised his leadership.

At one point, he appeared to drift off while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the room before shifting forward to reply. His tired look followed a long night on Truth Social, where he posted more than 160 times between 7 p.m. and midnight on Monday and resumed posting shortly before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, which added to the growing discussion around his health.

Donald Trump Appears to Fight Sleep During Televised Cabinet Meeting

President Donald Trump seemed to lose focus multiple times during the Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting. He repeatedly narrowed his eyes and, at one moment, kept them fully closed as his team outlined their achievements and spoke in his praise. While Howard Lutnick shared an update on the Commerce Department, Trump kept his eyes shut for several seconds before leaning in to answer him.

The president’s drained appearance followed a night of heavy activity on Truth Social, where he uploaded more than 160 posts from early evening to midnight on Dec. 1. He returned to the platform by 5:48 a.m. the next morning.

When PEOPLE reached out for comment, the White House shared a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said, “President Trump was listening closely and leading the three-hour Cabinet meeting,” before repeating a recent administration claim that Somali immigrants do not belong in Minnesota.

She continued, “Watch his strong closing remarks in the press conference, where he called out America-Last Democrats for allowing radical Somali migrants to take advantage of American taxpayers.” She said that this moment captured the energy of Trump’s ninth Cabinet meeting of his second term, all of which have been fully open to the press.

“In each of these meetings,” she added, “the President and his team lay out the long list of accomplishments they have delivered for the American people to Make America Great Again.” Last year, Trump rejected reports that he had fallen asleep during his criminal trial in New York. Multiple outlets had described him slipping into brief naps, with The New York Times noting, “Mr. Trump appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest,” which Trump denied.

Donald Trump Health Questions Surge As He Was Caught Sleeping

Donald Trump is once again facing scrutiny over his health after a new video showed him looking sleepy during a Cabinet meeting. His slow eye movements and long pauses with his eyes shut set off fresh conversations online. A separate photograph from Mar-a-Lago, where he appeared with his eyes closed and mouth open, fuelled more worry.

As per PEOPLE, at the same time, an image of Joe Biden looking lively during a walk in Nantucket led to a wave of side-by-side comparisons on social media. The White House maintains that Trump remains in “excellent health”, pointing to recent tests, though his unclear remarks about undergoing an MRI have added to public questions. With both leaders under a microscope, discussions about presidential fitness have returned with new intensity.

Donald Trump MRI Scan Results

The White House on Monday released details from Donald Trump’s MRI, which he completed last month as concerns about his health continued. In a statement, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, the physician to the president, outlined the results of Trump’s advanced imaging. He said the scan focused on Trump’s heart and abdominal region, showed no issues, and confirmed that the president is in “excellent health”. This type of preventive testing is common for men in his age group.

Even so, with this being his second MRI this year, speculation has grown about whether Trump is dealing with any health problems, and the recent moment where he seemed to fall asleep has heightened that speculation.

A sudden and unusually early rise in norovirus infections, often called the “winter vomiting disease”, has been reported across the United States, adding yet another health concern to a season already crowded with respiratory illnesses, as noted by Axios. Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that positive norovirus tests have doubled over recent weeks, climbing from seven percent in August to 14 percent by mid-November.

This spike has arrived sooner than expected and at a time when cases of COVID, whooping cough, and seasonal flu are also climbing.

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Winter Vomiting Disease: What Is The Norovirus?

Norovirus leads to intense vomiting and diarrhea because it irritates the stomach and intestines, as described by the CDC. This has earned it the informal name “extreme vomiting disease.”

It is the most frequent cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the country. Nearly 20 million people deal with norovirus each year, according to Scientific American. It is different from the common “stomach bug” or “stomach flu” and has no link to the influenza virus.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Norovirus Symptoms To Watch For

Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and often include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Dehydration (usually due to repeated vomiting and diarrhea)

Less often, people may also experience fever, headaches, or body aches.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Who Is At Risk For Norovirus?

Norovirus outbreaks can affect anyone, but children and older adults face a higher chance of serious illness, the CDC notes. Since several strains of the virus exist, people may get sick more than once. Genetics may also influence how likely someone is to catch it.

Also Read: Your Morning Orange Juice Might Be Shaping Thousands Of Immune Genes At Once

Winter Vomiting Disease: How Does Norovirus Spread?

Health officials describe norovirus as extremely contagious. It spreads quickly through droplets, contaminated surfaces, or unsafe food.

Norovirus is a human virus usually spread through the fecal-oral route,” explained Robyn Chatman, a Cincinnati physician, to the American Medical Association. This means the virus can transfer from contaminated hands to the mouth during routine activities. It can remain on surfaces for days or even weeks and moves rapidly in crowded places such as nursing homes, child care centers, and cruise ships, the AMA notes.

Winter Vomiting Disease: Why Are Norovirus Cases Spreading In The US?

A norovirus “outbreak,” as defined by the CDC, occurs when two or more similar illnesses stem from the same suspected or confirmed source. The CDC records about 2,500 such outbreaks each year.

Between August 1 and November 13, 153 outbreaks were reported. By comparison, only 69 outbreaks had been recorded by the final week of November last year. In early December 2023, the U.S. logged 65 outbreaks, according to AP.

Everyday Health reports that a new norovirus strain may be contributing to the current jump in cases. For many years, most infections were linked to the strain GII.4. Now another strain, GII.17, has become dominant, responsible for around 75 percent of outbreaks during the 2024–2025 season, up from about 10 percent during 2022–2023.

What to Do if You Get Sick With Norovirus?

There is no specific treatment for norovirus, as Cleveland Clinic explains. The infection needs to run its course. Staying well-hydrated, resting, and choosing mild, easy-to-digest foods can help ease symptoms. Seek medical care if you cannot keep fluids down or if your symptoms continue beyond three days.

To prevent spreading the virus, the CDC advises avoiding food preparation or caring for others until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first-ever recommendation endorsing GLP-1 medications as part of a long term strategy to manage obesity in adults. Earlier, in the guidance to deal with obesity, the main focus was given to diet and lifestyle changes. Thus, this is a big shift from how the UN agency has traditionally approached obesity treatment.

Until now, WHO guidelines only focused on lifestyle changes including physical activity and diet. The new recommendation acknowledges that medication can play a supportive role when combined with counseling on healthy eating and regular exercise.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the guideline describes long-term use as continuous treatment for at least six months. In its note, WHO called obesity a “chronic, relapsing disease” that affects more than one billion people worldwide and contributes substantially to illness, early death, and economic strain on health systems. GLP-1 therapies, the organization wrote, offer “clinically meaningful weight loss and broad metabolic benefits” when used appropriately.

How Do GLP-1 Drugs Work?

GLP-1 drugs mimic the action of the natural hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and promote weight loss. They work by increasing insulin release in a glucose-dependent manner, decreasing the liver's production of glucagon, and slowing down the emptying of the stomach, which helps lower blood sugar levels after a meal. They also act on the brain to suppress appetite and increase feelings of fullness, leading to reduced calorie intake.

In people with type 2 diabetes, notes Harvard Health, the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon.

These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes.

Why WHO’s Guidance Matters

In September, WHO added GLP-1 drugs to its list of essential medicines, but only for treating diabetes, not for obesity alone. The new guideline extends that conversation, offering a more formal stance on their use in obesity management. The recommendations were developed by a committee of experts in obesity, pharmacology, and public health, following requests from several WHO member states. They also align with approvals already granted by regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Obesity: A Global Health Challenge

Obesity is now recognized as one of the most widespread health concerns worldwide, linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions, including cancers, heart disease, and metabolic disorders. Beyond physical health, it also impacts mental well-being and quality of life. With more than a billion people affected globally, the economic burden on healthcare systems continues to grow.

Also Read: Only 1 in 10 People With Obesity Have Access To Popular GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs, Says WHO

However, the accessibility still remains a major issue. n the United States, the most widely used medications: Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, carry list prices exceeding $1,000 per month. Recently, the Trump administration announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies aimed at lowering costs for people paying out of pocket or covered under Medicare or Medicaid.