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.

Specialty chocolate bars are being removed from store shelves after concerns were raised about possible salmonella contamination, the US Food and Drug Administration said on January 12. Spring & Mulberry has announced a voluntary recall of its Mint Leaf Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bar, which has been sold online and at selected retail locations across the country since September, the FDA confirmed.

The issue was flagged during routine testing carried out by an independent laboratory. So far, no illnesses or negative health effects linked to the product have been reported.

As per The Independent, consumers who purchased the recalled chocolate are being advised to throw it away and seek a refund from Spring & Mulberry. The company has asked customers to contact them directly and provide a photograph of the chocolate bar showing the affected lot code.

Chocolate Bars Sold Across The US Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns

A well-known chocolate brand has issued a recall after possible salmonella contamination was detected. Spring & Mulberry, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based company, voluntarily recalled its Mint Leaf Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bar following routine third-party testing that found traces of salmonella, according to an FDA notice released Monday.

The recalled bars have been sold online and through selected retail partners since September 15, 2025. Consumers can identify the affected product by its teal-colored packaging and the lot code 025255 printed on the back of the box and the inner wrapper.

What Is Salmonella?

• Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than three days without improvement
• Diarrhea accompanied by a fever above 102 degrees
• Severe vomiting that makes it difficult to keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, reduced urination, and dizziness when standing
• Abdominal cramps

Symptoms usually appear between six hours and six days after exposure. While most people recover within four to seven days, those at higher risk, including children under 5 and adults over 65, may develop more severe illness that requires medical care or hospitalization.

Affected Lot Code For Recalled Chocolates

The recalled Spring & Mulberry chocolate carries the lot code #025255. This code applies specifically to the Mint Leaf Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bar that has been pulled from the market due to the potential risk of salmonella contamination identified during routine lab testing.

Shoppers are urged to check their packaging carefully for the listed lot code. Anyone who has a bar with the affected code should not eat it. Instead, they should discard the product and contact Spring & Mulberry to request a refund.

As per USA TODAY, although no illnesses have been reported so far, the recall has been issued as a precaution to safeguard public health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems. The FDA has shared further guidance on recall steps and salmonella symptoms.

The chocolate recall follows another FDA action just months earlier involving Doughy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough produced by Hudson River Foods in November, also due to possible salmonella contamination. That recall was later upgraded to a Class I recall on December 5 after officials determined that consuming the product could result in serious health effects or death.

A total of 113 units of the edible cookie dough were included in that recall. The affected products were sold in 12-ounce containers and carried a best-by date of July 4, 2026.

The UK’s drug regulator has cleared a higher-strength dose of the weight-loss injection Wegovy, as demand for the treatment is expected to rise sharply. The newly approved 7.2 mg dose is three times stronger than the current weekly dose of 2.4 mg. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, said the stronger dose can lead to weight loss of more than 20 per cent. Trial data reviewed by the regulator showed that around one in three adults living with obesity who took the higher weekly dose lost more than 25 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks.

Weight Loss Jab To Launch Stronger Dosage In UK

The approval comes alongside research from the University of Oxford suggesting that people using drugs such as semaglutide, sold as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, tend to lose weight while on treatment but regain it within about 20 months after stopping the injections. According to The Independent, people who lose weight through diet and exercise tend to maintain the loss for longer, close to four years on average, although some regain still occurs over time.

Researchers cautioned that people using weight-loss injections need long-term support, as their analysis showed weight returns more quickly after stopping the drugs than it does for those following traditional diet plans. The study also found that improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure fade once the medication is discontinued, leaving many patients back where they started. The Oxford-led research, published in the British Medical Journal, reviewed 37 studies involving more than 9,000 participants.

What Is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a widely used weight-loss injection containing the active ingredient semaglutide. Studies show that people on the standard maintenance dose of 2.4 mg lose an average of 17 per cent of their body weight over 68 weeks. A higher 7.2 mg dose has now been approved for use in the UK, with clinical trials indicating it can deliver weight loss of up to 21 per cent.

What is Wegovy 7.2mg?

Wegovy 7.2 mg is a new maintenance dose of the semaglutide-based weight-loss injection. Until now, the highest approved weekly dose was 2.4 mg. The stronger 7.2 mg option is being introduced by the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, following its submission to regulators for approval.

This new dose uses the same active ingredient, semaglutide, and works in the same way by helping overweight or obese adults lose weight. It does this by copying the action of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite and food intake.

Further studies examining the safety and effectiveness of the higher dose are already in progress. The latest findings from the STEP UP phase 3b trial were published in November 2025.

How Effective Is The Wegovy 7.2 Dose?

The STEP UP phase 3b trial assessed how safe and effective the 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy is. The study included 1,407 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either 7.2 mg or 2.4 mg of Wegovy, or a placebo, over an 11-month period.

The average weight loss recorded was:

• 20.7 per cent in the 7.2 mg group
• 17.5 per cent in the 2.4 mg group
• 2.4 per cent among those given a placebo

The approval follows recent findings showing that about 1.6 million people used Wegovy or Mounjaro last year. Another 3.3 million people said they would consider using weight-loss medications in the coming year.

According to The Independent, research by University College London based on a survey of 5,260 people found that 2.9 per cent of respondents were using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Of those, 15 per cent were taking medication that is not licensed for that purpose. Researchers warned that using drugs off label, meaning for conditions they are not approved to treat, such as using diabetes drugs for weight loss, can carry safety risks if taken without proper medical supervision.

The Upstate South Carolina measles outbreak grew to 434 confirmed cases by Tuesday, officials reported. Health authorities said the outbreak has expanded quickly, with 124 new cases recorded in just a few days between January 9 and January 13, 2026.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, around 409 people were placed under quarantine and 17 were kept in isolation as of Tuesday. Officials also confirmed that one individual, unaware they were contagious at the time, visited the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia on January 2 between 1 pm and 5 pm. Anyone who was at the museum during that window may have been exposed and has been advised to watch closely for symptoms.

What Is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral illness that typically causes fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a widespread red rash. It spreads through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus is extremely infectious and can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.

While some cases are mild, measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and even death, especially in young children. A safe and effective vaccine has prevented millions of deaths worldwide, but outbreaks continue to occur in areas with low vaccination coverage, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Measles Cases Spreading In The US

South Carolina health officials said yesterday that the state’s measles count has reached 434 after confirming 124 new cases. At present, 409 residents are in quarantine and 17 are in isolation, with some quarantine periods expected to last until February 6.

Mobile vaccination units are operating this week, and officials are strongly encouraging residents to get vaccinated. “Getting vaccinated now can help people avoid long periods of quarantine at home after exposure to the measles virus. Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can prevent measles infection,” the state’s department of public health said in its latest update.

Measles Symptoms

Measles can result in hospitalization and, in severe cases, death. Common symptoms include:

• High fever, which can rise above 104 degrees
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Tiny white spots inside the cheeks, gums, and on the roof of the mouth known as Koplik spots, appearing two to three days after symptoms begin
• A red, raised, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs within three to five days after symptoms start

Measles Vaccine Prevention

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the measles, mumps, and rubella or MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective against measles and 86 percent effective against mumps when both recommended doses are received.

The MMR vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. The first dose is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age, followed by a second dose between ages 4 and 6. Children who are traveling internationally may receive the vaccine earlier.

As reported by CIDRAP, South Carolina allows religious exemptions from vaccination through a notarized form, without requiring a doctor’s approval. One of the schools linked to the early phase of the outbreak, Global Academy of South Carolina, reported a vaccination rate of just 17 percent during the 2024 to 25 school year.

Of the 434 measles cases tracked over the past six months, 378 patients were unvaccinated and 47 had an unknown vaccination status. Only six people were fully vaccinated, while three had received partial vaccination. About two thirds of all measles cases in South Carolina involve children and teens aged 5 to 17, accounting for 287 cases.