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.

West Bengal today became the 36th state to implement the Indian government's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The scheme aims to achieve universal health coverage and ensure seamless access to quality healthcare for every eligible citizen across the country.

The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the state.

Over 12 Crore Treatments Availed Under PM-JAY

“Beneficiaries under the AB PM-JAY scheme have availed over 12 crore treatments worth more than Rs 1.82 lakh crore, providing substantial financial protection to poor and vulnerable families,” said JP Nadda, Union Health Minister.

He noted that one of the most significant outcomes of the government's efforts has been the reduction in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, which has declined from 64.6 per cent before 2018 to 43.4 per cent today.

Nadda further stated that AB PM-JAY has enabled timely access to quality healthcare through a cashless, paperless, and fully digital platform.

Referring to findings published in The Lancet, he noted that nearly 90 per cent of eligible cancer patients under the scheme were able to access treatment within 30 days, demonstrating the program's role in improving timely healthcare access.

Who Will Benefit From AB PM-JAY in West Bengal?

Also read: India working on grand preventive and holistic health vision: PM Modi

Chief Minister of West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari noted that under the National Health Mission has recently released Rs 527 crore to the state, which will further support healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.

The scheme will cover:

• 1.43 crore families in total
• 1.24 crore eligible beneficiary families
• Around 3.06 lakh families of ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and helpers
• Nearly 15.95 lakh families of senior citizens aged 70 years and above

Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said that AB PM-JAY is not merely a health scheme but a transformative initiative that has brought financial protection and healthcare security to millions of vulnerable families across India.

She noted that AB PM-JAY, "now covers more than 62 crore people, including poor and vulnerable families, senior citizens aged 70 years and above, and gig and platform workers" in India.

Achievements include:

• More than 44 crore Ayushman Cards have been created.
• Over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme.
• Women are accounting for nearly half of all beneficiaries.

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Read More: India AI Summit: Union Health Minister Nadda Launches SAHI And BODH Initiatives To Boost AI In Healthcare

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched in September 2018 and has since emerged as the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme.

The scheme provides health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It covers around 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

The program was later expanded to include 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

In a major crackdown on social media use among those under the age of 16, the UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is preparing to curb children's access to harmful content online.

In recent weeks, the government has examined a variety of options for restrictions, including a blanket ban on under-16s accessing social media, similar to measures introduced in Australia and Karnataka in India.

Why Is the UK Considering a Social Media Ban?

The proposed plan comes amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several studies have linked excessive social media use to increased social isolation, sleep loss, higher stress levels, reduced physical activity, and less time spent outdoors, all of which can have significant health consequences.

In addition, concerns about children's online exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content have fueled calls for stricter regulations. Another key concern is the rise of online grooming, sextortion, and harmful content that can be accessed by children through social media and other digital services.

The government has been since months reviewing evidence on how social media affects young users and whether certain platform features encourage addictive behavior. Policymakers are also examining the role of algorithms that promote endless scrolling and prolonged engagement, The Sunday Guardian reported.

Which Social Media Apps Could Be Affected?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

The UK government is yet to make the final decision and publish an official list of social media platforms that would be restricted if the proposed rules move forward. However, reports suggest that platforms considered to pose higher risks to children could face tighter age restrictions. This include:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Snapchat
• X
• Facebook
• Discord
• Reddit

UK May Block Children From Sharing Explicit Images

Also read: Should Parents Limit Social Media For Teens? New Study Shows It Is Lowering Their Memory Score

Beyond social media restrictions, the government is also looking at measures aimed at preventing children from creating, sharing, or viewing explicit images on smartphones and other devices.

Prime Minister Starmer has given major technology companies, including Apple and Google, a three-month deadline to introduce stronger safeguards designed to protect children from online exploitation and sextortion.

“When it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option,” he said, while speaking at London Tech Week

The proposed system would require adults to undergo verification before sending, receiving, or accessing explicit content, while technology companies could face penalties if they fail to implement the required protections.

The move is designed to address the growing problem of children being pressured into sharing intimate images that are later used for blackmail or abuse.

Social Media Ban in Australia And India

Anyone under the age of 16 in Australia is now banned from using social media services. These platforms include TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Threads. Under the law, people under 16 cannot create new social media accounts, and their existing accounts will be deactivated.

In India, Karnataka became the first state to announce plans for a broad restriction on social media use among teenagers. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have also been considering similar measures aimed at restricting social media use among children.

Audrey Leishman, wife of professional golfer Marc Leishman, initially believed she was suffering from the flu after developing common flu-like symptoms. However, her condition rapidly worsened and was later diagnosed as sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.

The Virginia woman nearly lost her life, spending 10 days in the intensive care unit (ICU). Following the ordeal, she faced a long recovery and had to relearn how to walk, Fox News reported. Now recovered, Leishman is dedicated to raising awareness about the condition through her nonprofit organization, the Begin Again Foundation. She has also written a children's book aimed at helping families recognize the warning signs.

Symptoms Began After IUD Removal

Leishman faced the ordeal in 2015. She started experiencing symptoms of what she initially thought was an upset stomach a couple of days after having her intrauterine device (IUD) removed, according to the nonprofit Sepsis Alliance.

The next day, the mother of three said she began feeling unwell, experiencing stomach cramps and "severe pain in my right elbow and left big toe," along with a high fever, nosebleeds, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. "I could barely hold my 18-month-old son because I was so weak. My temperature was 102°F," Leishman said.

She eventually went to urgent care, where doctors initially thought she had some form of an autoimmune disease, Fox News reported. As the days went on, Leishman started to feel worse. Her fever spiked higher, and she developed severe stomach issues. "I actually thought I was going a little bit crazy … I hadn't injured myself. I was really confused as to what was going on," Leishman said.

"They took a very long time to figure out what was going wrong with me." "They kept testing me for different things," she continued. "Eventually, they admitted me, and I was in the ICU for a total of 10 days — five of which were in a medically induced coma." During this time, her temperature and heart rate were abnormally high, and her blood pressure was dangerously low.

Sepsis Led to Respiratory Failure

The sepsis ultimately developed into acute respiratory distress syndrome. "I very much remember not being able to breathe," Leishman recalled. "That was by far the scariest part. It got to the point where I had to pause between every word to take a breath, and it was basically like sipping air."

Leishman was eventually diagnosed with sepsis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), according to Sepsis Alliance.

While she did recover, she was unable to walk, and the first year of recovery was "very difficult." "When I finally did wake up, it was quite the process of relearning how to walk again, dealing with at-home physical therapy and being on a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter)," Leishman said.

"My immune system was so compromised that I was sick constantly," she added, noting that although she is now healthy, her memory "is not what it used to be" and that she gets fatigued more often. The original cause of her sepsis remains unclear, she said, but it may have been linked to her recent IUD removal.

Warning Signs of Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that harms the immune system, tissues, and organs. It can lead to organ failure or death if not treated urgently, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

According to Sepsis Alliance, the acronym TIME can help people recognize potential warning signs of sepsis and seek urgent medical care.

T — Temperature: Body temperature is unusually high or low.

I — Infection: Signs or symptoms of an infection are present.

M — Mental Decline: Confusion, excessive sleepiness, or difficulty waking up.

E — Extremely Ill: Severe pain, extreme discomfort, or shortness of breath.