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.

DengiAll, India's first indigenous dengue vaccination, has completed its Phase-III human trials across 19 locations in India and is now waiting for final approval before being distributed across the country.

The vaccine, which has been in development since 2008 and is set to hit shelves in 2027, is a single dose medication that protects patients from all four variants of dengue fever.

Made by Panacea Biotec with technology from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the vaccine aims to provide long-term immunity and reduce the significant public health burden of dengue fever in India and globally.

Dr Syed Khalid Ali, Chief Scientific Officer at Panacea Biotec told The Print, "Dengue has puzzled scientists and immunologists for decades now. People infected with it can show anything from mild flu-like symptoms to even death. A lot of it has to do with the serotypes of dengue, and how they interact with each other.

"DengiAll has been in the making for over 15 years, and it comes at a time when half the world’s population is at risk of dengue. There’s no question about need. We needed such a vaccine yesterday.”

How Does It Work?

DengiAll works by using live, weakened versions of all four dengue virus types (DEN1, DEN2, DEN3 and DEN4) in a single shot to train the immune system to recognize and fight all variants of the virus and and protect the body from future natural infections.

The vaccine is also a tetravalent vaccine meaning that it is designed to provide balanced immunity against all four variants and overcome the challenge of each of the different types, making it a crucial feature as getting a second dengue infection with a different serotype can be more severe and deadly.

Dr Ali explains, "The catch is, if you get infected with one serotype, you’re only protected from that one type. You can very likely get infected with dengue again, with another serotype. In fact, the second infection is more likely to be severe, even life-threatening."

Why Is This Vaccine Necessary?

Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, dengue presents with high fever, headache, joint pain and rash, and while often severe forms can be fatal. Over the years,

the mosquito-borne disease has become a major public health concern in India, ranking among the top 30 countries with the highest incidence of the disease.

States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra often report high case numbers annually after monsoons due to climate change, urbanization, and multiple virus strains. According to Global HealthCare Academy, around 1.5 to 2 lakh people fall sick from it every year.

The global incidence of dengue has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, with more than 129 countries reporting dengue viral disease by the end of 2023, according to the World Health Organization.

Apart from DengiAll, Butantan-DV is the only other single-dose, live-attenuated dengue vaccine approved in Brazil for ages 12-59 and is expected to rollout in 2026.

AIIMS New Delhi launched free cervical cancer screening through January as a public interest drive. In India, in every 8 minutes, 1 woman loses her life to cervical cancer, however, doctors say that it is highly preventable. Thus, as part of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Preventative Oncology at the Institute of Rotary Cancer Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the College of Nursing, is offering the WHO-recommended HPV testing, follow-up care, and vaccination.

Who Can Undergo These Screening?

• Women who are of the age 30 to 65 years can undergo cervical and breast cancer screening from Monday to Friday between 9am to 3pm.

• HPV vaccination is available for girls aged 9 to 14 years on Saturday between 9am to 12 noon at the New RAK Building, AIIMS.

• Community screening drives are also conducted across NCI Jhajjar through January 2026.

Dr Pallavi Shukla, Associate Professor of Preventative Oncology, AIIMS, who is coordinating the programme said, "This is one cancer which is absolutely preventable. Women should not neglect their health at any age, we must make earnest efforts to eliminate cervical cancer from India."

Also Read: Every Two Minutes, One Woman Loses Her Life To Cervical Cancer: UN

What Is Cervical cancer?

Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that develops in layers of the cervix. It is caused by abnormal cell growth that can spread to another part of your body. There are two main types of cervical cancer. These are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Cervix is located in the pelvic cavity, about 3 to 6 inches inside the vaginal canal. It serves as the entrance to the uterus to the vagina. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all cervial cancer are linked to human papillomaviruses (HPV) which are transmitted through sexual contact.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread.

Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Symptoms

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
• Advanced Cervical Cancer Symptoms (when cancer has spread beyond the cervix):

Persistent symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer

• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

How Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and, when detected early, highly treatable. The World Health Organization recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, along with regular cervical screening from age 30, or 25 for women living with HIV.

Despite this, unequal access to vaccination, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and deaths in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.

Pilot project to provide menstrual cups to school and college students in selected districts of Karnataka has been successfully implemented and now the Department of Health and Family Welfare has decided to expand the scheme across the state. The Government order noted a revised administrative approval which granted to provide 10,38,912 menstrual cups at a cost of more than Rs 61 crores through Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

This decision is said to cut government expenditure on sanitary napkins by Rs 10 crores. The government spend Rs 71 crores to purchase 2,35,74,084 sanitary napkins annually to provide to beneficiaries of the Shuchi scheme. The revised order states that the department will continue distributing sanitary napkins for the next three months, after which students will be provided one menstrual cup for the following academic year.

What Are Menstrual Cups?

Menstrual cups are a small, reusable intimate product used to collect period blood. It is not only good for maintaining menstrual hygiene but is also good for the environment.

How To Insert A Menstrual Cup Correctly?

Learning to use a menstrual cup properly might take some time and practice. If you have questions about which cup to choose or how to use it, your gynecologist can provide guidance. It's common to have some difficulty during the first few uses, but most people become comfortable by their third menstrual cycle. Here is how you insert it for use:

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before handling the menstrual cup.
• There are various ways to fold the cup for insertion, such as the C-fold, 7-fold, or punch-down fold. Experiment to find which one works best for you.
• Find a comfortable position, such as squatting or sitting on the toilet.
• Gently insert the folded cup into your vagina, aiming it towards your tailbone.
• The cup should sit just below your cervix and feel comfortable. It should sit lower than a tampon.
• Once inserted, the cup should open and create a slight suction against the vaginal walls. You can gently rotate the cup or run a finger around the base to ensure its fully open.
• If your experience any pain or discomfort, it’s important to consult with a health care professional or your gynecologist.

Dangers Of A Poorly Fitted Menstrual Cup

The problem arose because the menstrual cup wasn't sitting where it is supposed to be. The cup was pressing on the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, essentially blocking the flow. This blockage led to pain and other symptoms for the woman. While this is a very rare occurrence, it emphasizes the importance of understanding how the cup interacts with your body.

Lancet health explains that a poorly fitted menstrual cup can cause issues like leakage from improper fit or fullness, pain or minor injuries from insertion, rare allergic reactions, and possible urinary problems due to urethral irritation or blockage. Though infrequent, IUD dislodgement has been reported, but it's difficult to definitively link it to cup use. Infections, including the very rare toxic shock syndrome (TSS), are possible if cups aren't properly cleaned, but studies suggest they may be less risky than tampons or pads. Overall, while complications are possible, they are generally infrequent.

The size of the cup, how it's placed, how long it's used, and each person's unique body shape all play a role. Even though this kind of complication is unlikely with regular use, it's a good reminder to pay attention to how you use menstrual cups and to be aware of potential issues.

The size of the cup, how it's placed, how long it's used, and each person's unique body shape all play a role. Even though this kind of complication is unlikely with regular use, it's a good reminder to pay attention to how you use menstrual cups and to be aware of potential issues.