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.

More than 20 vials of compounded tirzepatide, a GLP-1 medication containing the same active ingredient as Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, have been recalled in the US over sterility concerns, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall, issued by Apothecary Pharma, also includes a vial of NAD+ injection.

The FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning the affected products could cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, while the likelihood of serious harm is considered low.

The recall follows a December 2025 FDA warning letter to Apothecary Pharma, which cited serious deficiencies in the North Carolina company’s sterile drug production practices.

The recalled injections are compounded versions of tirzepatide. Unlike FDA-approved, brand-name medications, compounded drugs are custom-prepared by pharmacies to meet specific patient needs.

Which Compounded GLP-1 Injections Were Recalled?

Also read: US FDA May Allow Pharmacies To Make Unapproved Peptide Injections: What Are the Safety Concerns?

The affected tirzepatide product is a prescription injection with a concentration of 18 mg/mL, supplied in a 4 mL multidose vial. Its National Drug Code (NDC) number is 85091-001-18.

The recalled lot numbers are AP-202622 through AP-202625 and AP-202627 through AP-202644. The products have beyond-use dates ranging from October 7 to November 26, 2026.

The recall also includes one vial of NAD+ injection.

What Should You Do If You Have a Recalled Vial?

The FDA and Apothecary Pharma have not issued a public statement clarifying what patients should do with the affected vials. Some customers have reported receiving requests through their prescribers to return or dispose of the products or contact the manufacturer directly.

NewLife Rx, a pharmaceutical fulfillment service that distributed some of the recalled vials, reportedly told certain customers that Apothecary had described the recall as a documentation issue.

According to a notice reviewed by USA TODAY, the recall was conducted at the retail level and did not extend to patients or require them to stop using or return their medications.

However, neither the FDA nor Apothecary Pharma has publicly clarified the reason for the recall or the safety of the affected products.

Although a Class II classification indicates a relatively low likelihood of serious harm, it does not mean a product is entirely risk-free.

If you have an affected lot, consult your prescriber or healthcare provider before using it again and follow their instructions.

Read More: Retatrutide Driving Peptide-Linked Emergency Hospital Admissions In Australia: What Are The Risks?

What Are the Risks of Compounded GLP-1 Drugs?

A compounded drug is a medication prepared by a compounding pharmacy to meet an individual patient's specific medical needs. This may include removing an allergen, adjusting a dosage, or preparing a formulation that is not commercially available.

While these medications can serve specific medical needs, they are not FDA-approved in the same way as branded drugs. The FDA does not review compounded formulations for safety, effectiveness, and quality before they are marketed.

Demand for GLP-1 medications for weight loss skyrocketed worldwide between 2022 and 2025, leading to shortages of semaglutide and tirzepatide.

During these shortages, compounding pharmacies were legally allowed under specific circumstances to prepare several versions of these medications.

Many patients turned to compounded GLP-1s because they were often affordable, available, and easier to buy online.

Potential risks of compounded GLP-1 drugs include:

• Inaccurate Dosing
• Sterility Concerns
• Different Ingredients
• Limited Safety Data
• Counterfeit or Unregulated Products

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Hibsago (bepirovirsen), a first-of-its kind treatment for certain adults with chronic hepatitis B. The drug controlled virus activity in some patients after stopping all treatment.

Announced on October 20, 2026, the approval makes Hibsago the first FDA-approved antisense oligonucleotide for chronic hepatitis B.

It is approved for certain adults without cirrhosis who have already been taking antiviral medication for at least six months, have suppressed levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and meet specific criteria for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

In clinical trials, 19% of patients receiving Hibsago maintained viral control 24 weeks after stopping all hepatitis B treatment. No amount of HBsAg was detected in their blood. The treatment is meant to offer an alternative for some patients who otherwise need long-term antiviral medication.

“For many people living with chronic hepatitis B, treatment can mean taking antiviral medication for years to keep the virus suppressed,” said Wendy Carter, DO, acting director of the Office of Infectious Diseases in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“Hibsago provides a new treatment approach that gives some patients the possibility of maintaining control of the virus after all chronic HBV treatment has ended. This approval represents an important advance for people living with this serious disease.”

How Does Hibsago Work?

Hibsago targets the genetic aspects the hepatitis B virus targets. By reducing viral RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen, the drug helps the immune system control the infection even after after treatment ends.

The drug is administered as an injection under the skin for up to 24 weeks, alongside a patient's existing hepatitis B medication. Patients continue their treatment for at least 24 weeks after the final Hibsago injection. They can then stop all treatment if they meet specified clinical and laboratory criteria.

The FDA also authorised a diagnostic test to help identify eligible patients and monitor them during treatment.

Also read: G155E H1N1 Mutation In US Raises Concerns: Can This Year’s Flu Shot Still Protect You?

What Did The Clinical Trials Find?

The approval was supported by two Phase 3 trials, B-Well 1 and B-Well 2, which compared Hibsago with a placebo in adults receiving established antiviral treatment.

Across the trials, 24% of patients receiving Hibsago met the criteria to stop their existing antiviral medication, compared to none in the placebo groups.

At 24 weeks after stopping all treatment, 19% of patients receiving Hibsago maintained viral control. Hepatitis B surface antigen was also no longer detectable in their blood.

The outcome means the virus remains controlled without ongoing treatment according to specified laboratory criteria.

Also read: H. pylori, HPV Among Five Infections Behind 1 In 8 Cancers Worldwide: Lancet

What Are The Risks?

Hibsago carries a warning for serious liver reactions and thrombocytopenia, or low platelet counts, which can increase the risk of life-threatening bleeding.

Other warnings include poor kidney function and inflammatory reactions like vasculitis. Patients require regular blood tests and medical monitoring before and during treatment.

The FDA granted Hibsago Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations, along with Priority Review. The drug was approved for GSK plc.

The treatment is not suitable for everyone with chronic hepatitis B. Eligibility depends on liver health, existing treatment, viral suppression and laboratory results.

Chronic hepatitis B infections among children and young adults in the United States could rise by 83% if the country moves away from routinely recommending vaccination at birth for all newborns, according to a new study titled Projected Effect of 2026 Federal Changes to the Childhood Immunization Schedule on Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the United States, published in Annals of Internal Medicine recently.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School analysed outcomes for a birth cohort of 3.6 million infants over their first 20 years.

The study examined the impact of changes to US hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus.

Under the revised approach, parents and healthcare providers decide together whether and when to begin vaccination. The findings suggest that this could leave more children vulnerable to infection, increasing the cases of chronic hepatitis B.

What Did The Study Find?

The model compared universal vaccination at birth with two alternatives. The first is delaying the first dose until at least two months of age, and the second is leaving the decision to parents and healthcare providers.

Researchers estimated that delaying vaccination could increase chronic hepatitis B infections acquired by age 20 by 19%. Under the second option, the estimated increase was 83%.

The model estimated 255 chronic infections under universal birth-dose vaccination, compared to 303 if vaccination was delayed and 467 under shared decision-making.

The number of people who remained at high risk to hepatitis B at age 20 was also projected to increase. Under universal vaccination at birth, around 232,000 people in the cohort would remain at risk. This rose to 474,000 with delayed vaccination and approximately 1.8 million under shared decision-making.

Study's corresponding author Amir Mohareb said, “These findings show why policy makers should re-implement recommendations for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth.”

Also read: Hepatitis C: Could 8-Week Treatment Help India Reach More Patients?

Importance Of Hepatitis B Birth Dose

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and spreads through infected blood and certain bodily fluids, including during childbirth. Infection acquired during infancy is likely to become chronic, leading to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer in the future.

The universal hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation was introduced in the US in 1991. The first dose provides early protection, including when maternal infection is missed or a child's exposure risk is not recognised.

In December 2025, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended replacing universal vaccination at birth with shared decision-making for infants whose mothers test negative.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted this approach in January 2026. Babies born to mothers who test positive or whose infection status is unknown continue to be recommended to receive the birth dose promptly, along with hepatitis B immune globulin when indicated.

Also read: Can Panty Liners Pose A Cancer Risk? What Science Says

Increase In Infections, Deaths And Costs

The changes in vaccine policy is also likely to lead to hundreds more infections, deaths, and millions of dollars in higher costs, according to another research published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Pediatricians, public health experts, and dozens of medical groups warned that it could harm children and their families. So the JAMA studies modelled the potential impact of the policy.

The first study estimated that delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose by two months for babies born in a single year to mothers who tested negative — about 80 percent of the 3.6 million US births annually — would increase lifetime health-care costs by at least $16 million, The Washington Post reported. If vaccination were delayed by seven months, it would cost an additional $19.8 million.

The second study modeled what would happen if only 10 per cent of babies born to unscreened mothers received a birth dose; an additional 628 babies would get infected.

“One of the most concerning implications is how many more infected Hep B babies will we see,” said co-author Rachel Epstein, a pediatric and adult infectious diseases clinician at Boston Medical Center.

“A universal birth dose helps prevent a substantial number of infections in babies of a lifelong condition that we do not have a cure for,” she added.