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.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Ebola outbreak has become the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded, overtaking the country’s devastating 2018-2020 outbreak.

The current epidemic has also underscored the growing global concern over the rapid spread of the deadly disease.

Second-Largest Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo

According to the latest official figures released by the DRC health authorities and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the country has reported 3,442 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,521 deaths as of July 29, 2026.

However, more recent updates indicate the outbreak has continued to worsen rapidly, with 3,532 confirmed cases and 1,556 deaths reported by July 31, 2026.

The only Ebola outbreak larger than the current epidemic remains the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which infected more than 28,000 people and resulted in the deaths of over 11,300 lives.

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Ebola Outbreak Caused By Rare Bundibugyo Virus

Unlike many previous Ebola outbreaks caused by the Zaire ebolavirus, the ongoing epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rarer species of Ebola virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or licensed treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak remains active with heightened community transmission, particularly in eastern DRC, where insecurity, mistrust, population displacement and limited healthcare access continue to hamper outbreak containment efforts.

WHO Warns

In its latest Disease Outbreak News update, WHO said, “The outbreak remains active, with sustained transmission.”

The UN health agency noted that inside conflict, population displacement, community mistrust and restricted access to affected areas continue to affect contact tracing, surveillance, and containment and treatment activities.

WHO has also stressed that although the global risk remains low, the regional risk is high because of frequent cross-border movement between the DRC and neighbouring countries.

A major challenge in controlling the epidemic is the absence of a licensed vaccine or targeted therapy against the Bundibugyo virus.

According to WHO, while the Ebola vaccine used against the Zaire strain has shown limited experimental cross-protection in animal studies, there is currently inadequate evidence to recommend its use against Bundibugyo virus disease.

Also read: Uganda Declared Ebola-Free As Congo Outbreak Grows To 3,262 Cases, 1,437 Deaths

First Volunteer Receives Experimental Bundibugyo Vaccine

Amid the worsening outbreak, researchers have reached an important milestone in Ebola vaccine development.

The first volunteer has received an experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, marking the world's first Phase I clinical trial for this virus, according to the University of Oxford.

The vaccine, ChAdOx1 BDBV, developed in collaboration with Serum Institute of India (SII), is designed specifically to protect against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

It uses the same viral vector platform that powered the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine uses a genetically modified chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1)—a harmless virus that normally causes the common cold in chimpanzees—as a delivery vehicle.

"We welcome the start of the phase 1 clinical trial of an investigational vaccine against Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease—an important step to assess the safety and immune responses generated by the vaccine," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.

Health authorities, supported by WHO, Africa CDC and international partners, continue to strengthen surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention, community engagement and patient care.

The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has brought another side effect into focus.

After the widely discussed 'Ozempic Face,' dermatologists are now warning about 'Ozempic Hair,' a term used to describe excessive hair shedding that can occur after rapid and weight loss.

Experts say the condition is not caused by the medication directly damaging hair follicles. Instead, it is largely linked to rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and the body's metabolic response to sudden calorie restriction.

Why Are GLP-1 Users Facing Excessive Hair Loss?

According to Dr. Gaurav Garg, Senior Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dermato-Surgeon and Medical Director at Dermalife Skin and Hair Clinic, New Delhi, cases have become increasingly common in dermatology clinics.

"We are seeing a significant rise in patients complaining of excessive hair shedding after taking GLP-1 weight loss medications. Around 40% of the weight loss drug users visiting our clinics are experiencing mild to significant hair loss, with many noticing hair falling out in large clumps while washing or combing. In most cases, the medication itself is not directly damaging the hair. The problem is rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies and the metabolic shock experienced by the body," Dr. Garg said.

He added that the increasing use of these medications without proper medical supervision is further contributing to the problem.

"Ozempic isn't the enemy of your hair; malnutrition and metabolic shock are. By ensuring gradual weight loss and proper nutritional support under expert guidance, many of these problems can be prevented," he said.

Also read: UK Woman Spends £4,000 On Wegovy, Mounjaro, But Loses Less Than 14 Pounds In 15 Months

What Is 'Ozempic Hair'?

'Ozempic Hair' is not a medical diagnosis but a popular term for telogen effluvium, a temporary phase of hair loss due to stress. Rapid weight loss acts as a physical stressor, causing a larger number of hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely.

Hair shedding usually becomes noticeable three to four months after a user starts taking GLP-1 drugs. Reduced appetite during treatment may also result in deficiencies of all the nutrients that are important for hair growth. For example, protein, iron, zinc and biotin.

Also read: GLP-1 Microdosing: People Are Experimenting With Weight Loss Drugs & What Do Experts Have To Say About It?

Experts Warn Against Self-Medication

Dr. Garg cautioned that weight loss injections are increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes rather than for legitimate medical conditions.

"One of the biggest concerns today is that these weight loss injections are increasingly being viewed as quick-fix cosmetic solutions rather than prescription medicines meant for specific medical conditions. Many people begin taking them after watching social media content or on the advice of friends, without understanding the nutritional consequences. Hair shedding in most cases is temporary, but prevention is always better than treatment. These medications should never be used casually or without expert supervision," he said.

He stressed that people undergoing medical weight loss should receive appropriate dietary counselling, consume adequate protein, and undergo regular monitoring to reduce nutritional complications.

Echoing these concerns, Dr. Ramanjeet Singh, Director, Department of Dermatology, Medanta Hospital, said the trend reflects the risks of unsupervised use of GLP-1 medications.

"The emerging trend of 'Ozempic Hair' highlights the risks associated not only with rapid weight loss but also with the indiscriminate use of these medications without proper medical evaluation. We are increasingly seeing individuals obtaining weight loss drugs without specialist consultation or using them beyond recommended doses in pursuit of faster results. Hair shedding in such cases usually represents telogen effluvium triggered by rapid metabolic changes and nutritional deficiencies rather than permanent damage to the hair follicles," Dr. Singh said.

He added that the condition is generally reversible with timely intervention, balanced nutrition and medically supervised weight management.

Dermatologists advise people considering prescription weight loss medications to undergo a medical evaluation before starting treatment.

Maintaining adequate protein intake, avoiding crash diets, correcting iron and vitamin deficiencies where necessary, and seeking early dermatological care if excessive hair shedding develops may help reduce the severity and duration of hair loss.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan'.

It is a nationwide 100-week campaign aimed at discouraging young people from substance abuse through community participation, awareness activities and various other initiatives.

About Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan

Launched via video conferencing, the campaign seeks to transform young Indians into ambassadors of a drug-free society. The campaign has weekly events scheduled every Sunday across the country.

More than 10,000 locations joined the launch virtually, bringing together MY Bharat volunteers, National Service Scheme (NSS) members, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, industry associations and over 125 spiritual organisations.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that a healthy and drug-free youth population is essential for building a developed India (Viksit Bharat).

The Prime Minister said, "A drug-free youth is the greatest strength of Viksit Bharat. This campaign should reach every village, every town and every city through Jan Bhagidari."

He also said that substance abuse not only destroys individual lives and families but can also become a tool used by hostile enemy forces to weaken the country's future.

He also said, "Drugs destroy families, careers and the future of young people. Parents, teachers and society must come together to protect our youth from this menace." A healthy youth is the greatest strength of a Viksit Bharat. If our young generation stays fit physically and mentally, no force can stop India's progress."

Also read: Healthcare In India No Longer A Privilege, Becoming A Right: PM Modi

What Will Happen Over The Next 100 Weeks?

Unlike one-day awareness campaigns, the initiative is designed as a long-term public movement. Every Sunday, communities across India will organise activities such as:

• Walkathons and cycling events
• Sports competitions
• Meditation and yoga sessions
• Nukkad nataks and cultural programmes
• Art and poster competitions
• Community discussions and awareness drives

The government hopes the sustained weekly engagement will encourage behavioural change, especially among adolescents and young adults, while strengthening grassroots participation.

Also read: PM Modi Pledges 7.5 million For Cancer Moonshot Initiative: What Is It

A Broad Anti-Drug Strategy

The campaign builds on a series of youth-focused initiatives launched this year under the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' umbrella, including the National Nasha Mukti Quiz, awareness programmes in educational institutions, the Nasha Mukti Anthem initiative and youth conclaves across the country.

These efforts are part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has been expanded nationwide to curb drug problem through prevention, awareness and community engagement.

Officials say the latest campaign aims to create a society-level movement by bringing together educational institutions, youth organisations, society groups, corporate bodies and spiritual organisations on a common platform.

With one crore youth also taking the Nasha Mukti pledge during the launch, the government hopes the campaign will evolve into one of India's largest community-led efforts to prevent substance abuse.