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 flu infections starting to climb across Canada, doctors and public health specialists are preparing for a challenging influenza season. The concern centres on the global spread of a changing H3N2 strain that may not line up well with this year’s flu vaccine. Fresh federal figures released on Friday show that about two per cent of flu tests nationwide returned positive results last week. While that remains below the five per cent threshold Canada uses to officially declare a seasonal flu outbreak, it marks a clear rise compared to recent weeks.

Outside Canada, the current flu season has already been severe, with record case numbers reported in the Southern Hemisphere and an earlier-than-usual surge seen in parts of Asia and the United Kingdom. As winter approaches, experts say these trends could offer clues about what Canada might face. “This is the second year in a row that the Southern Hemisphere has seen higher-than-average influenza activity,” said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Montreal Children’s Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre, as per CTV News.

“When you look at case numbers, last year was likely the worst flu season Canada experienced in about ten years. Based on what we’re seeing so far, there’s a real possibility we could see a similar level of severity again,” he added.

Influenza A: What Is Leading To The Surge?

Some specialists believe a changing version of H3N2 is driving the early rise in cases. This form of influenza A is already known for causing more serious illness, particularly in older adults. What is raising extra concern this year is that recent mutations appear to be creating more distance between the circulating virus and the protection offered by the current flu shot. Dr. Danuta Skowronski, who leads influenza and emerging respiratory pathogen epidemiology at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, is one of several Canadian experts closely tracking these changes, according to CTV News.

Influenza A: Experts Warn Of Vaccine Mismatch

Although the H3N2 subtype had remained relatively stable for years, Skowronski says it has recently begun showing sharper structural shifts as it spread into northern regions. These changes suggest the strain now circulating could be poorly matched to this season’s vaccine. The current flu shot is designed to protect against two influenza A strains, including H1N1 and H3N2, along with one influenza B strain. “There’s actually a fairly large gap between the H3N2 virus we’re seeing circulate and the one included in the vaccine,” Skowronski explained. “That’s not due to any error. It reflects how unpredictable and fast-changing influenza viruses can be.”

In a statement shared with CBC News, the Public Health Agency of Canada said it keeps close watch on respiratory virus trends around the world to identify patterns that could affect Canadians.

The agency also noted that flu data from the Southern Hemisphere does not always directly forecast what will happen in Canada, since seasonal patterns and population dynamics can differ.

“At this point, it’s still too early to say how severe Canada’s flu season will be,” the agency said, adding that factors such as which influenza subtype becomes dominant, the presence of other respiratory viruses, vaccine performance, and vaccination rates will all play a role.

Even if this year’s vaccine turns out to be less closely matched to the evolving H3N2 strain, all three experts emphasized that getting the flu shot remains important, especially for older adults across Canada.

U.S. health authorities have widened the approval of a closely debated medication designed to increase female libido, allowing the once-daily pill to be used by women over the age of 65. The decision, announced on Monday by the Food and Drug Administration, extends the drug’s use to older women who have already gone through menopause. The pill, Addyi, was originally cleared a decade ago for premenopausal women experiencing emotional distress linked to a low sex drive. Anisha Mathur, Founding Partner at Shepherd Law Associates, explained the development and what it means.

What Is Addyi?

Addyi, also known by its generic name flibanserin, is an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD, in women. HSDD refers to a long-term or recurring lack of sexual desire that leads to emotional distress or strain in relationships and cannot be explained by another medical condition, relationship difficulties, or medication side effects, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Marketed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Addyi was once expected to become a major breakthrough in women’s health. However, the drug faced setbacks due to side effects such as dizziness and nausea. It also carries a strong safety warning about alcohol use. The FDA’s boxed warning, its strictest caution, notes that consuming alcohol while taking Addyi can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and fainting.

What Is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder?

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD, involves an ongoing reduction or absence of sexual thoughts, fantasies, and interest in sexual activity that causes significant personal distress or relationship tension. It is a common form of sexual dysfunction seen in both women and men. People with HSDD may experience low libido, little response to sexual stimulation, or a tendency to avoid sex altogether. Possible contributing factors include stress, relationship challenges, mental health conditions, certain medications, hormonal shifts, or past trauma.

The condition, which describes a distressing lack of sexual desire, has been recognised since the 1990s and is believed to affect a large number of women in the United States, based on survey data. After the commercial success of Viagra for men in the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies invested heavily in finding treatments for female sexual dysfunction. Diagnosis, however, remains complex because libido is influenced by many factors. After menopause, declining hormone levels bring biological changes and medical symptoms that further complicate assessment.

Addyi: FDA Approves Libido-Boosting Drug For Postmenopausal Women

U.S. health regulators have now expanded the approval of the controversial libido drug, allowing women over 65 to take the once-daily pill. The FDA’s announcement broadens its use to include older postmenopausal women.

According to CNN, diagnosing HSDD is challenging because sexual desire is affected by multiple physical, emotional, and psychological factors, particularly after menopause. Physicians are expected to rule out issues such as relationship stress, underlying medical conditions, depression, and other mental health disorders before prescribing the medication. The diagnosis itself remains debated, with some psychologists arguing that low sexual desire should not automatically be treated as a medical condition.

Before its approval in 2015, the FDA rejected Addyi twice, citing limited effectiveness and concerns over side effects. Its eventual approval followed a strong lobbying effort by the manufacturer and advocacy groups like Even the Score, which positioned the lack of treatment options for female libido as an issue of gender equality in healthcare.

Salad Dressing Recall: If you recently bought salad dressing or sauces, it may be time to double-check what’s sitting in your fridge following an important recall. On November 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall covering thousands of gallons of dressings and condiments made by Ventura Foods LLC. The notice was later upgraded on December 4 to a Class II recall, highlighting the need to remove these products from stores and homes. Here is what consumers should know.

Also Read: The “Triangle of Death” on Your Face: Why You Should Never Pop a Pimple There

Salad Dressing Recall: What Products Are Being Recalled?

The expanded recall affects multiple Ventura Foods LLC products, including the following dressings and sauces:

• Caesar Dressing (Costco Food Court)—32 LB (14.51 kg); SKU: 0 26700 19376 7
• Caesar Dressing (Costco Service Deli)—23.62 LB (10.71 kg); SKU: 0 26700 19376 7
• Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip—1 GAL (3.78L); SKU: 7 34730 53243 1
• Hidden Valley, Buttermilk Ranch—1 GAL (3.79L); SKU: 0 26700 19192 3
• Italian Salad Dressing—1 GAL (3.78L); SKU: 7 67367 00518 4
• Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing—1 GAL (128 FL OZ) 3.79 L; SKU: 0 93901 78134 5
• Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing—1 GAL (128 FL OZ) 3.79 L; SKU: 0 93901 72607 0
• Publix Deli Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ Sauce—12 LB; SKU: 10 026700 16964 6
• Ventura Caesar Dressing—2000LB (907.1kg); SKU: 00 026700 17360 8

Costco also recalled two ready-to-eat items that used the affected dressing: the Caesar Salad (item number 19927) and the Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad (item number 11444). Both products are now past their sell-by dates, which ranged from October 17 to November 9, as per Health.

Salad Dressing Recall: Why Are Salad Dressings Being Recalled?

According to the FDA and Costco, the recalled dressings and sauces may contain pieces of plastic, described as “plastic foreign material,” leading to a voluntary recall. The FDA noted that because many of these products were manufactured in large quantities for food service use, they were likely supplied to delis, cafeterias, and similar facilities. Distribution covered 27 states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Salad Dressing Recall: What Does A Class II Recall Mean?

On its website, the FDA explains that a Class II recall is its second most serious category. It refers to situations where using or being exposed to the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, while the chance of severe health consequences is considered low.

Salad Dressing Recall: What Should I Do If I Purchased These Products?

The FDA has not issued detailed guidance for consumers who may have bought the recalled items. As with any recall, the safest step is to avoid consuming the products and contact the retailer for information about returns or refunds. Costco stated in its advisory that customers should stop using the affected items and bring them back to their local Costco location for a full refund.