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.

Karnataka, which is home to ‌the tech hub of Bengaluru, has officially become the first Indian state to implement a wide ban on teenagers using social media.

CM Siddaramaiah announced the move while presenting the annual state Budget today and noted that the ban is aimed at preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children.

He told officials: "With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16."

Last month, Siddaramaiah had discussed this issue in the meeting of Vice-Chancellors (VC) conclave held in Bengaluru and sought opinions of VCs. During the discussion, he raised concerns about the impact of social on academics.

The move is being supported by multiple state officials including State IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge as well as Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Is Any Other State Considering a Ban?

Andhra Pradesh may soon follow Karnataka's steps and ban social media for teenagers under the age of 16 in the state.

Nara Lokesh, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development Minister for Andhra Pradesh, told Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland: "As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment.

"Youngsters below a certain age should not be on such platforms, as they do not fully understand the content they are exposed to. Thus, a strong legal framework may be required."

TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy supported Lokesh's claim and stated: "Children below a certain age are not emotionally mature enough to comprehend the negative and harmful content that is freely available online. That is why the Andhra government is studying global best practices and examining Australia's under-16 social media law."

If implemented successfully, Andhra Pradesh would be the first Indian state to issue the ban and could pave the way for other states to consider such policies. State officials are yet to clarify when the rule will be implemented and if any fines will be attached to it.

How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers?

The researchers found that children aged 9 to 13 who used social media more often did worse on tests that measured skills like reading, memory, and language. They were tested on these abilities two years after the study began. The results were published in a major medical journal called the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The children's brain power was measured using special tests created by the National Institutes of Health, which tested things like how well they remember information and understand language. The study found a clear, but small, drop in the test scores for kids who used social media.

• Kids who used social media for just one extra hour a day scored about 1 to 2 points lower on their memory and reading tests.
• Kids who used social media for up to three extra hours a day saw a bigger drop, scoring as much as 4 points lower.

The United States has issued a travel advisory against global polio. International travel often comes with vaccine reminder and health checks to stay safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel advisory for certain international destinations with circulating poliovirus. The CDC has asked travellers to ensure they are up to date on their polio vaccines.

Also Read: 500 Girls In Rajasthan Receive HPV Vaccine In First Five Days Of Prevention Drive

The Destination list for global polio travel Advisory notice includes:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• Germany
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Israel
• the West Bank and Gaza
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Poland
• Republic of South Sudan
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Spain
• Sudan
• Tanzania, including Zanzibar
• United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

The CDC issued a 'Level 2' advisory, which means to 'practice enhanced precautions'.

Also Read: The Hidden Cost of Extreme Fitness On Women’s Bodies | Women's Day Special

The advisory suggests that children and adults should be up to date on their routine polio vaccines. Travelers are also asked to get an inactivated polio vaccine booster if they are going to the destination that has circulating poliovirus, or have completed their routine polio vaccine series; and have not already received one adult booster dose.

Types Of Notices Issued By CDC

The CDC issues four different types of notices based on the gravity of the disease spread.

Level 1 : Practice Usual Precautions

Practice usual precautions for this destination, as described in the Travel Health Notice and/or on the destination page.

Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions

Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions or defines a specific population at risk.

Level 3: Reconsider Nonessential Travel

Reconsider nonessential travel to this destination. The outbreak or event poses risk to travelers because limited precautions are available.

Level 4: Avoid All Travel

Avoid travel to this destination unless traveling for humanitarian aid or emergency response; there is an extreme health risk for travelers and no available precautions.

What Is Polio?

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that it is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in matter of hours. The virus is transmitted by person to person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route, or less frequently, by a common vehicle, which could be either from contaminated food or water. The virus also multiplies in the intestine.

The National Institute of Health (NIH), US, notes that the virus responsible for causing Polio belongs to the Picornaviridae family.

As per the WHO, the common Polio symptoms are:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Stiffness of the neck a
• Pain in the limbs

How Does Polio Spread?

Polio is mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route, meaning it spreads when a person consumes food or water contaminated with the virus. It can also spread through close contact with an infected individual. The poliovirus lives in the throat and intestines of those infected, and poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate hygiene greatly increase the risk of transmission, especially in communities with limited access to clean facilities.

In severe cases, polio can lead to acute flaccid paralysis, which may affect the diaphragm and throat muscles, making it difficult to breathe or swallow. Since there is no cure for polio, prevention remains the only line of defence. Raising awareness about polio vaccination is therefore essential to protect individuals, especially children, from this potentially life-threatening disease.

500 girls have received the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in the first five days of launching the cervical cancer prevention drive. A senior officer, as also reported by TOI noted that misinformation and lack of awareness could lead to a lower number of girls showing up. This is why, while the initial response is encouraging, logistics are still need to be figured out, including identification of session sites and to widen coverage and counter doubts that surround the vaccine. "The HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical caner, one of the most common cancers among women in the country. Addressing public concerns is crucial for the program's success," said the official.

Also Read: US Issues Travel Advisory For International Travelers Against Global Polio

Health officials along with public health experts will be conducting interactive sessions on social media across districts on Thursday. In Sikar, a dedicated platform will also allow experts to respond to the questions directly on HPV infections, vaccine safety, eligibility and benefits.

As of now, the program allows a single vaccine dose for girls who have completed 14 years and are yet to turn 15. As per the Health Department, around 8.32 lakh girls in Rajasthan are eligible for the vaccine annually.

Nationwide Free HPV Vaccine Drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28 launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 years from Rajasthan's Ajmer.

The initiative marks a decisive step towards eliminating cervical cancer through timely HPV vaccination. Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India. Nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths are reported annually in the country.

Read: PM Modi Launches Nationwide Free HPV Vaccination Drive; A Landmark Step, Says WHO

"Today, I have had the opportunity to launch the HPV vaccine campaign from Ajmer. This campaign is an important step towards empowering women and daughters of this country,” PM Modi said.

“For us, this was a sensitive issue tied to the insult of our sisters and daughters, one that made them ill. That is why we resolved it at a crucial turning point in their mission,” he added.

The World Health Organization has also lauded India's mission to launch the HPV vaccine and prevent the risk of cervical cancer.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the daughters of the country are healthy and prosperous. The objective of this initiative is the prevention of cervical cancer," the Prime Minister, earlier wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Who Can Avail The Nationwide Free HPV Vaccination Drive?

The vaccine is most effective when it is administered before exposure to HPV and before becoming sexually active. Young women aged 9 to 14 years show vaccine effectiveness of 74 to 93 per cent and this decreases with age.

Read: India Launches Nationwide Free HPV Vaccine For Adolescent Girls - Why Should Every Woman Consider It?

Girls aged 9 to 14 should get two doses of the vaccine in 6 to 12 months apart

Women aged 15 to 26 years can get three doses in 0, 2, and 6 months apart

Adults aged 27 to 45 must get it after consultation with their healthcare provider