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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, highlighted the growing awareness of organ donations in India.

The Prime Minister lauded people who have undertaken such noble deeds.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has recorded a fourfold surge in organ transplants over the last decade. From less than five thousand in 2013, organ transplants in the country jumped to nearly 20 thousand in 2025.

“Awareness about organ donation is steadily rising in India these days. This is helping those who are in need of it. It is also strengthening medical research in the country. Many organizations and individuals are doing extraordinary work in this direction,” the PM said in the 131st episode of the monthly radio program.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to 10-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, from Kerala, who lost her life in an accident but gave life to five people to become the youngest organ donor in the state.

“There is no greater sorrow for any parent than losing one’s own child. The pain of losing a very young child is deeper. Just a few days ago, we lost Aalin Sherin Abraham, a little innocent girl from Kerala. She left this world at the age of just 10 months.

PM Modi said even amidst "profound pain", Aalin's father, Arun Abraham, and mother, Sherin, decided to donate her organs.

"While on the one hand, they grieved the loss of their daughter, on the other, they were also filled with a spirit of helping others," PM Modi said.

“Aalin Sherin Abraham is no longer with us, but her name has joined the ranks of the nation's youngest organ donors,” he added.

He also mentioned the names of organ recipients -- Lakshmi Devi from Delhi, Gaurang Banerjee from West Bengal, and Ramdev Singh of Sikar, Rajasthan -- who, after receiving the transplants, got a second chance at life.

“You will come across many such inspiring examples. This proves once again that a single noble act can change the lives of countless people. I heartily commend all those who have undertaken such noble deeds,” the Prime Minister said.

Where Does India Stand In Terms Of Organ Transplants?

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has recorded an unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation, and transplantation across the country.

As per the Health Ministry, about 18 per cent of transplants are currently being performed with the organs donated from deceased donors.

In 2025 alone, more than 1,200 families came forward to donate organs of their loved ones after death. Each donor is now also a multiorgan donor, transforming the lives of many.

Since September 2023, more than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through an Aadhaar-based verification system.

Notably, India has also achieved competence in performing difficult organ transplants like the heart, lungs, and pancreas.

The country also leads the world in hand transplants and performs a greater number of hand transplants than any other country.

Women, young ones and ones holding their babies, along with some men lined up on the outskirts of Zimbabwe's capital Harare for the injections of a new HIV prevention drug. The country launched it on Thursday. This drug needs to be administered only twice a year.

Why Is This Vaccine So Important For Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe is a country where HIV led to tens of thousands of deaths in the last two decades. It is the first country to roll out lenacapavir, which is a long-acting drug that authorities have put their hopes on to slow down the HIV infection.

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What Is So Special About The HIV Injections?

Clinical studies have demonstrated near-total protection for the drug and has been described as a 'turning point' for high risk groups by many experts. However, many have warned that its broad impact would require overcoming funding constraints, infrastructure gaps and the challenge of keeping patients engaged.

Immunologist at Emory University Rama Rao Amara, calls it a "wonder drug". The drug, known as lenacapavir has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is made by Gilead Sciences.

How Does This Drug Differ From Earlier HIV Prevention Drugs?

In 2021, FDA approved injectable form of PrEP medication called cabotegravir, however, this required patients to take it in every two months. This was also an intramuscular dose that healthcare providers were to administer into the buttocks.

What changes with lenacapavir is its easy administration. Each dose lasts longer compared to other medications and requires to be administered twice a year.

Read: 12.4 Lakh HIV Tests In Haryana Detect 5,877 Cases

The limitation with lenacapavir is its price tag of more than $28,000 per person per year. Carmen Pérez Casas, a senior strategy leader at Unitaid, a global health initiative based in Geneva, Switzerland said, "This is unaffordable. We need to get somewhere close to what previous options cost."

However, there is hope as the researchers published an analysis in The Lancet HIV that suggested generic versions of this drug could cost a person $25 per year.

Could This Drug Reshape HIV Prevention?

At the Zimbabwe launch, Constance Mukoloka, a sex worker, was among the first beneficiaries of this roll out which has happened by donor-support across 10 African countries, as reported by PBS News.

"I am safe, I can work with confidence now," said the 27-year-old sex worker. "When I took tablets, customers would see a container of pills and leave. They would never return due to fear," she said. "They couldn't tell the difference between PrEP and treatment drugs. With the work we do, that stigma costs you money."

Daily oral PrEP has been offered in Zimbabwe for years, along with condoms, vaginal rings and shorter-acting injections. However, sticking to the regimen has been difficult, especially for people dealing with stigma or irregular daily routines.

"I work in beer halls looking for clients. Sometimes I would get drunk and forget to take my drugs," Mukoloka said. "Sometimes I would work all night and not have time. Some clients refuse protection. They say ... 'Why should I use protection when I have paid?'"

Mexico has reported more than 2,700 new cases of measles so far this year, as per the government data. Most of these infections have been detected among infants and young children. Not too far away, in the US, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, 900 new cases have been confirmed.

However, unlike in the 1990s, the Secretary of Public Education in Baja California Sur, Alicia Meza Osuna, clarified that it is not a requirement to present the complete vaccination schedule for children to attend schools. However, in the Mexican city of Cabo San Lucas, specific health measures are being taken.

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What Parents In Cabo San Lucas Must Keep In Mind?

• The standard school enrollment process will continue as usual, and families are not required to present a complete vaccination record to register.
• In areas where recent cases have been reported, localized health precautions may be introduced. Families in Cabo San Lucas should be prepared for temporary preventive measures if an outbreak occurs.
• Parents are advised to take their children to a medical facility if they notice symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, small white spots inside the cheeks, or skin rashes so they can receive timely medical care.
• Except during declared emergencies, vaccination certificates are not required for school admission.

What Happened In Mexico In The 1990s?

In the 1990s, the Ministry of Health (SSA) and the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) required that children be protected against diseases such as measles, polio, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and tuberculosis before entering preschool or primary school, as part of the health prevention policies. However, at present, as Alicia Meza Osuna stated, "It is not a requirement to enroll children in school to present their vaccination card. Under no circumstances is it a requirement to present a complete vaccination schedule for a child to attend school."

What Is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is an extremely contagious viral illness that typically causes high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads downward across the body. It spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to severe and sometimes fatal complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain known as encephalitis.

Although it is preventable through the safe and effective MMR vaccine, measles remains a serious threat in many regions. There is no specific cure, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

What Are The Symptoms Parents Must Look Out For?

Measles has a high transmissibility, and high measles immunity levels are required to prevent sustained measles virus transmission.

This is why herd immunity for measles could be easily breached.

It easily spreads from one infected person to another through breathes, coughs or sneezes and could cause severe disease, complications, and even death.

Symptoms include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny Nose
• Rash all over the body

The most unique symptom or the early sign of measles in the Koplik spots. These are tiny white dots that look like grains of salt on red gums inside the cheeks that appear before the red rash starts to appear on a person's face and then the body.

Read: Unique Symptoms Of Measles In 2026 And How Long Does The Infection Last?

Furthermore, the symptoms of measles are also characterized by the three Cs:

• Cough
• Coryza or runny nose
• Conjunctivitis or red and water eyes

How Long Does The Infection Last?

The progression of the symptom comes in two stages, first is the prodromal stage or Days 1 to 4, where one would notice high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, sore throat, fatigue, and Koplik spots.

The second stage is called the rash stage or the days 5 to 10 or even more where rash start to appear on the hairline, and then it runs down the body. It lasts for several days and fades in the same order.

The first symptoms, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appear 7 to 14 days after a measles infection. Often, it could also lead to ear infection, or even diarrhea. Though these complications happen in every 1 in 10 children or individual with measles.