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.

With speed, sudden drops and dizzying twists at hundreds of feet in the air, roller coasters are meant to give riders an adrenaline rush and thrill. But a recent incident related to brain bleeding has shed light on the harmful impact of these extreme movements inside the brain.

A recent investigation found discovered that serious brain injuries have been allegedly linked to the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.

According to CNN, more than 100 people have allegedly suffered brain injuries after riding the attraction over the past two years. Three lawsuits were filed this week against Six Flags.

Two women who rode X2 just six days apart in July suffered severe brain haemorrhages and required emergency surgery. Doctors treating them attributed their injuries to rapid acceleration and deceleration experienced during the ride.

The cases raise the medical question of what happens to the brain when the body is subjected to sudden, powerful changes in speed and direction?

Can Roller Coasters Cause Brain Bleeds?

The brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions it against everyday movements and minor impacts. However, this protection has its own limits.

When a roller coaster suddenly accelerates, brakes or changes direction, the head and brain may not always necessarily move at exactly the same speed.

The brain can shift, stretch or rotate within the skull, placing strain on delicate blood vessels and nerve fibres. In extreme circumstances, these forces can tear blood vessels and cause bleeding inside the skull.

So it's not necessary that a person needs to hit their head against a hard surface to sustain a traumatic brain injury. Rapid rotational movements alone can sometimes cause significant damage to the brain.

Also read: Popular Organic Applesauce Recalled Due To Mold Toxin: What Is Patulin & How Dangerous It Is

What Is A Subdural Haematoma?

A subdural haematoma is a life threatening brain injury, in which the blood collects between the brain's outer protective covering, called the dura mater, and the brain's surface.

Sudden acceleration and deceleration can tear the veins that connect the brain to its surrounding structures.

As blood accumulates, pressure inside the skull increases. This can compress brain tissue and, in severe cases, require emergency surgery to remove the blood and relieve pressure.

Also read: Beer Is Getting A 'Health Makeover': Do Protein Or Electrolytes Really Make It Healthier?

G-Forces Are Another Factor

G-force means the acceleration experienced by the body relative to Earth's gravity. During sharp turns, steep drops and sudden brakes, roller coaster riders experience changing G-forces. However, G-force alone does not determine whether someone will sustain a brain injury.

The speed and direction of head movements, specially rapid rotation, may also contribute to brain bleeds. A small 2017 study found that roller coasters could produce brain movement and strain comparable to mild football headers. However, the researchers did not find evidence of an immediate risk of acute brain injury on the rides studied.

Warning Signs After Riding A Roller Coaster

Serious neurological injuries associated with roller coasters are considered to be rare. The Six Flags cases do not establish that an ordinary roller coaster rides will have the same risks as X2.

People with existing vascular abnormalities, previous head injuries or those taking blood-thinning medications may face additional risks.

A headache after a roller coaster ride may seem harmless, but certain symptoms require immediate medical attention.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warning signs of a traumatic brain injury include worsening headaches, repeated vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, seizures, weakness and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can appear immediately or develop hours later.

A popular organic applesauce has been recalled in the US after routine testing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed high levels of patulin, a toxin produced by certain molds that can grow on apples.

Wakefern Food Corp. voluntarily recalled select containers of Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce after the patulin levels were found to exceed food safety limits. No illnesses linked to the toxin have been reported yet.

The recall involves 23-ounce plastic jars with UPC 04119005677 and a best-by date of June 16, 2027. The product was sold through ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market.

What Is Patulin?

Patulin is a mycotoxin, meaning it is a toxic chemical produced by certain species of fungi or mold.

The FDA identifies molds from genera including Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochylamys as sources of patulin. Apples are one of the best-known sources, particularly when fruit is bruised, damaged, rotten or improperly stored.

When contaminated apples are used to make products like apple juice or applesauce, the toxin can remain it. The pasteurisation does not eliminate patulin, so simply heating an apple product is not a reliable way to get rid of the toxin.

Also read: Beer Is Getting A 'Health Makeover': Do Protein Or Electrolytes Really Make It Healthier?

How Dangerous Is Patulin?

The health concern depends on the amount and duration of exposure to patulin. According to the FDA, consuming food or beverages containing high levels of patulin may cause nausea and vomiting, while evidence also indicates that the toxin can damage cells. The agency monitors patulin because prolonged exposure to elevated levels may pose a serious health hazard.

The FDA has established an action level of 50 parts per billion (ppb) for patulin in apple juice, apple juice concentrates and apple juice products.

This does not mean that eating a food once above the regulatory limit automatically causes poisoning. Food safety limits are designed to control exposure and reduce potential health risks, particularly when contamination could occur repeatedly.

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Patulin In Applesauce

Molds formed due to patulin can grow on apples that have been bruised, damaged or allowed to rot. Contamination can also happen during storage.

The problem can be difficult to identify simply by looking at the finished food. FDA guidance notes that some contamination can originate from internal problems like core rot that may not be obvious from the outside of an apple. Removing damaged fruit before processing is therefore an important control measure.

So, anyone who has the recalled Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce at home should not consume it.

Consumers should check the jar for the 23-ounce size, UPC 04119005677 and best-by date June 16, 2027. The company says recalled products can be returned to the store for a refund or replacement.

Stopping GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound may cause some of their cardiovascular benefits to fade, a large new study suggests.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that people who stopped GLP-1 treatment had a progressively higher risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke and death. After two years off treatment, their risk was 22% higher than among those who continued taking the drugs.

The findings, published in BMJ Medicine, are significant as GLP-1 drugs are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and have also been shown to provide cardiovascular benefits.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers analyzed health data from 333,687 US veterans with type 2 diabetes over up to three years. Of these, 132,551 had been prescribed GLP-1 drugs, while 201,136 had been prescribed sulfonylureas, another class of diabetes medicines.

Treatment status was reassessed every six months. About 26% of GLP-1 users stopped treatment completely, while another 23% had a treatment gap of at least six months before restarting.

The longer people remained off treatment, the greater their cardiovascular risk.

After one year without restarting, the risk of major cardiovascular events was 14% higher than among continuous users. After two years, it was 22% higher.

"There is enormous exuberance about starting GLP-1 drugs, but not nearly enough attention to what happens when people stop," said senior author Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University.

Also read: Are GLP-1 Drugs Safe for Children? Study Finds Nutritional Deficiency in Nearly 17% Within a Year

Continuous Treatment Showed Greater Benefit

People who remained on GLP-1 drugs throughout the three-year study had an 18% lower risk of major cardiovascular events than those taking sulfonylureas.

That translated to about four fewer major cardiovascular events per 100 people over three years.

Those who remained on treatment for two or 2.5 years before stopping also had lower cardiovascular risk, by 7% and 15%, respectively.

However, people who stopped before 18 months did not have a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk compared with those taking sulfonylureas by the end of the study.

Treatment Gaps May Weaken Heart Protection

Interrupting GLP-1 treatment and later restarting it was associated with less cardiovascular protection. While continuous users had an 18% reduction in major cardiovascular events, those who stopped and later restarted had an average 12% reduction.

Even a six-month treatment gap was associated with a 4% to 8% increase in cardiovascular risk compared with continuous use.

Al-Aly said many patients stop GLP-1 drugs because of "cost, side effects or shortages."

"When they stop, it's not just weight that comes back; they experience a resurgence in inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Weight regain is visible; the metabolic reversal is not," he said.

"Our data suggest this metabolic whiplash is detrimental to heart health," Al-Aly added.

Read More: EXCLUSIVE: GLP-1 Drugs Are The ‘New Statins’, Says University Hospital Birmingham Professor

Can Restarting GLP-1 Drugs Restore The Benefits?

Restarting treatment appeared to restore some cardiovascular protection, but not all of it.

The researchers said the findings suggest that cardiovascular benefits gained during GLP-1 treatment may diminish after treatment is interrupted.

"Clinicians should treat adherence to GLP-1 treatment as an important outcome in its own right -- not an afterthought," Al-Aly said.

He added that healthcare systems should help patients manage side effects, address cost barriers and understand that GLP-1 drugs are used to manage chronic conditions.