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.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.

What Does the Vote Mean?

Also read: Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish Jha

The committee voted along party lines to refer Fauci to the US Justice Department, which will decide whether to investigate or pursue contempt charges over his refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so under a congressional subpoena, The Washington Post reported.

The referral does not automatically result in prosecution. It is now up to the Justice Department to determine whether to pursue the case.

Ahead of the vote, Senator Rand Paul said the issue before lawmakers was Fauci's refusal to answer questions—not his views or his handling of the pandemic.

"The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused. That is what we are voting on today—not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from the podium six years ago," Paul said.

"We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence," he added.

Fauci, 85, said the decision not to answer questions "pained" him but that he was following the advice of his legal counsel. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves under most circumstances.

Senate Committee Obtains Fauci's Phone Records

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

As the contempt proceedings moved forward, the Senate committee said it had obtained a backup copy of Fauci's government-issued iPhone, which he used during his tenure as NIAID director, including while leading the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the phone records could provide additional information.

"Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week's hearing."

Long-Running Debate Over COVID Origins

The hearing is the latest development in the long-running political debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci's legal team noted that he had appeared before congressional committees at least 20 times since the COVID-19 pandemic began and had continued testifying even after retiring in mid-2024. They argued there had been no major COVID-19 developments since then that warranted further testimony.

For years, Fauci has been accused of attempting to conceal the virus's origins and of supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where some believe the pandemic may have begun through a laboratory leak.

In June, former US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

Most scientists, however, continue to believe that transmission from an infected animal remains the more likely origin of the virus.

Recently, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, in a media interview, said that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

TikTok creator Sydney Towle has died at the age of 26 after a three-year battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

Her family announced her death on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 5), sharing a photo of Towle standing on a mountain peak alongside the message: "Rest in Peace Sydney Elizabeth Towle. An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, a sister and friend to so many."

"We will always love you so much, Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you," read the caption.

Her older brother, Austin Towle, also shared the tribute on his TikTok account, calling her the "best sister ever."

Sydney Towle: Entered Hospice Days Before Her Death

A day before announcing her death, Austin revealed that Sydney had entered hospice care. The post showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed.

"Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support❤️," he wrote.

Sydney Towle: Rare Bile Duct Cancer at 23

Also read: Candida auris: US CDC Reports 3,437 Cases of Deadly Superbug In 27 States

Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 23, a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts and is most commonly diagnosed in people over 50.

Her diagnosis followed a lump and a burning sensation in her abdomen in 2023. Initially believed to be a hernia, it was later confirmed to be bile duct cancer.

Sydney Towle Documented Cancer Journey Online

Following her diagnosis, Towle documented her cancer journey on social media, saying that sharing her experience gave her a "purpose." She built a community of more than one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Over the course of her illness, she underwent several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and participated in clinical trials.

In an interview with TODAY.com in November 2024, Towle said five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy had reduced the size of her tumor, allowing surgeons to remove most of it. However, some cancer remained lining her liver, and doctors planned regular scans to monitor it.

A later MRI revealed a lesion that doubled in size within a month.

She later moved to New York City, where she began working with a new medical team to develop another treatment plan.

Cancer Continued to Progress

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

In a TikTok video posted on May 17, 2026, Towle revealed that the cancer had spread to her peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdomen and pelvis.

Two days later, she said her oncologist recommended stopping active treatment and transitioning to end-of-life care.

"I said, 'No.' So, we are switching hospitals," Towle said. "We're not at the point where we're giving up."

On June 8, she shared that doctors had found tumors in her lungs. Despite undergoing further surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy over the following weeks, her health continued to decline. On July 21, she revealed she had been hospitalized for about a month while waiting to learn whether her treatments were working.

Her social media accounts fell silent soon after. On Aug. 4, her brother announced she had been moved to hospice care. A day later, her family confirmed that she had died, surrounded by loved ones.

What Is Cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts—the slender tubes that carry bile, a digestive fluid, from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease occurs most often in people over the age of 50, although it can develop at any age. It is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging.

Signs and Symptoms include

• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Intense itching
• White- or clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

The US has reported 3,437 cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris across 27 states so far this year, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure is about 1,000 fewer than the 4,290 cases reported during the same period last year.

The states reporting the highest number of cases this year are:

• California: 873
• Texas: 433
• Tennessee: 283

The CDC clarified that an increase in reported cases does not necessarily mean the fungus is spreading more rapidly than usual.

"An increasing number of cases does not mean the fungus is transmitting at a more rapid pace than usual," the CDC said.

The agency added that while C. auris cases continue to rise every year, the rate of increase has slowed since 2022.

Most Strains Resistant to Common Antifungal Drugs

A CDC analysis published earlier this year, based on 8,033 C. auris samples collected in 2022 and 2023, found:

• More than 95% were resistant to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal drug.
• 15% were resistant to amphotericin B.
• 1% were resistant to echinocandins.
• Fewer than 1% were resistant to all three major antifungal drug classes.

Why Is Candida auris a Concern?

Candida auris is a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in the human body. It was first identified in 2009.

The CDC said that the drug-resistant fungus continues to pose a major challenge for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities because it is difficult to treat and control.

"Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is frequently resistant to antifungal drugs. C. auris can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality and can colonize patients asymptomatically, which facilitates transmission in health care settings," the CDC said.

"Since it was first reported in the United States in 2016, C. auris has been identified in multiple states, with increasing numbers of cases reported annually. Monitoring national trends in cases identified through clinical testing and screening for colonization is critical to guide infection prevention and control efforts," it added.

Why Is Candida auris So Difficult to Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris spreads easily through contaminated medical equipment and direct person-to-person contact. It can also survive for long periods on surfaces and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, making outbreaks difficult to contain once the fungus enters a healthcare facility.

Health officials say the steady rise in cases each year points to ongoing transmission in healthcare settings.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Candida auris can infect:

• The bloodstream
• Wounds
• Ears
• Other parts of the body

Symptoms vary depending on the site and severity of the infection. Some people may carry the fungus without showing any symptoms.

The CDC noted that most people who develop Candida auris infections are already seriously ill, making it difficult to determine how much the fungus contributes to death compared with their underlying medical conditions.

The fungus is particularly concerning in hospitals and nursing homes because it can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, and bed rails. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes infections difficult to treat and eliminate.