The death toll from Ebola has crossed 2,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), three months after the outbreak was officially declared in May.

The outbreak has caused 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded in the Central African country. The response has been complicated by strikes by unpaid health workers, misinformation and cultural practices.

Ebola Virus Outbreak Began in February

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved treatment or vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus first emerged in the DRC in February, about three months before the outbreak was officially declared in the DRC and neighboring Uganda on May 15.

Some early patients were reportedly treated for malaria or typhoid, which can initially cause fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea. Early testing also focused on the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, delaying recognition of the Bundibugyo virus.

By early May, WHO had identified an unusual cluster of severe illness and deaths in the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province. An investigation covering April 15 to May 13 subsequently identified 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths across three health zones.

The response has also been affected by conditions in Ituri, including armed conflict, population displacement and poor road access. Health workers have faced shortages of protective equipment, while some healthcare facilities have been affected by workers' strikes.

Zoonotic Spillover Likely Triggered the Outbreak

A new study published in Nature Medicine suggests that the outbreak began through a zoonotic spillover event, meaning the virus jumped from animals to humans before spreading between people.

Researchers from Congo, Uganda, Belgium and other countries found that the outbreak strain was genetically distinct from Bundibugyo Ebola viruses identified during previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.

The findings are consistent with a new animal-to-human transmission event, followed by sustained human-to-human transmission.

The study did not identify the specific animal source. However, Ebola viruses are known to periodically spill over from infected animals into human populations.

Genetic analysis also confirmed that cases detected in Uganda were linked to the outbreak in Congo.

How Was the Study Conducted?

Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreaks were previously recorded in 2007–2008 in Bundibugyo District, Uganda, and in 2012 in Isiro, DRC.

For the 2026 outbreak, researchers generated 22 viral genomes from samples collected from patients with BVD in the DRC and Uganda.

The genomes formed a well-supported phylogenetic cluster separate from variants associated with the 2007 and 2012 outbreaks. The analysis also showed evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

The researchers called for greater decentralized laboratory diagnostic capacity, including pan-Orthoebolavirus testing and genomic sequencing, to improve early detection and control of future outbreaks.

How Does Ebola Spread From Animals to Humans?

Ebola can jump to humans from infected animals such as bats, monkeys and apes. Transmission can occur through contact with blood, body fluids, excrement or raw meat during hunting and butchering.

Once the virus enters the human population, it can spread from person to person through contact with infected bodily fluids.

Symptoms of Bundibugyo Virus Disease

Symptoms of Bundibugyo virus disease are similar to those caused by other Ebola viruses and can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising, usually in later stages of illness

BidenAmid rising prostate cancer cases, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has revised its screening guidelines, recommending earlier testing for men at higher risk to improve early detection.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men after skin cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the US. An estimated 333,830 men will be diagnosed and more than 36,000 will die from the disease in 2026.

Updated for the first time since 2010, the guidelines, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, introduce age- and risk-based screening schedules. They aim to detect potentially aggressive cancers while limiting unnecessary tests and treatment.

Former President Joe Biden urged men to get tested for prostate cancer after the American Cancer Society changed its screening guidelines, four days after he said his own fight with the disease has been slowing him down.

"I know firsthand the toll of this disease, and I know that catching it early saves lives. So talk to your doctor, get screened, and let’s keep working to end cancer as we know it," Biden shared in a post on X.

What Has Changed In The New Screening Guidelines?

Previously, the ACS recommended that men discuss the benefits and risks of screening with their doctors without prescribing a specific schedule.

The revised guidelines recommend prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests at different intervals based on age and risk.

1. Men At Average Risk: Ages 50–69: PSA testing every two years.

2. Men At Higher Risk

Black men:

• Begin screening at 45, with annual PSA testing until age 69.

Men with an affected father, brother or son should begin screening at 45 and continue through age 69.

• Annually: If a close relative was diagnosed before 65, or more than one close relative has had prostate cancer.
• Every two years: If only one close relative was diagnosed at 65 or older.

Men with inherited genetic risk:

Men with inherited conditions such as BRCA2 mutations, or those with a close relative carrying a high-risk mutation who have not been tested, should discuss screening with their doctor.

3. Screening After Age 70

• Ages 70–74: Discuss the benefits and risks with a doctor. Those opting for screening should undergo PSA testing every two years.
• Ages 75–79: Screening is not routinely recommended. Exceptionally healthy men with rising PSA levels may discuss continuing with their doctor.
• Age 80 and above: Screening is discouraged.

Screening is also not recommended at any age for men in poor health who are not expected to live another 10 years.

What Happens If Your PSA Level Is High?

An elevated PSA does not necessarily mean prostate cancer or an immediate need for a biopsy. The ACS considers PSA levels high at:

• 3 ng/mL or higher in men younger than 70.
• 6.5 ng/mL or higher in men aged 70 and above.

If elevated, the test should be repeated, preferably within two weeks to three months. If levels remain high, further evaluation may include:

• Prostate MRI: To identify suspicious areas.
• Biomarker testing: To assess cancer risk.
• Prostate biopsy: To confirm cancer when indicated.

These additional steps can help avoid unnecessary biopsies and reduce screening-related harms.

Active Surveillance For Low-Risk Prostate Cancer

For men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, the ACS recommends active surveillance as the initial management approach. This involves:

• Regular PSA testing.
• Periodic biopsies.
• MRI scans, when appropriate.

Treatment may be considered if monitoring shows that the cancer is becoming more aggressive.

Prostate Cancer: Why Early Screening Matters?

"Early prostate cancer usually doesn't cause signs and symptoms, which is why screening is important," said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the ACS.

When symptoms occur, they may include:

• Difficulty urinating or a weak urine stream.
• Frequent urination, particularly at night.
• Blood in the urine or semen.

Advanced prostate cancer may cause bone pain if the disease spreads to the bones or other organs.

However, these symptoms can also indicate conditions other than cancer. Men experiencing them should consult a doctor.

India has intensified its efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) through early detection, advanced diagnostics, nutritional support and community participation under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in September 2022, the Union Health Ministry said.

Citing the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, the ministry said India recorded a 38% decline in TB mortality since 2015, outperforming the global reduction of 35%. The country also achieved a 94% treatment success rate among patients with drug-susceptible TB.

TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: 15 Lakh Asymptomatic Cases Detected

The campaign has expanded its screening efforts through intensified 100-day campaigns, including initiatives launched on December 7, 2024, and March 24, 2026.

Between December 7, 2024, and November 8, 2026, more than 25 crore people were brought under TB screening activities.

According to the ministry, the screening drive resulted in:

• More than 11 crore chest X-rays conducted.
• Over 3 crore nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) conducted.
• 48.64 lakh TB cases detected, including 14.97 lakh asymptomatic cases.

"The detection of nearly 15 lakh asymptomatic cases is particularly significant, demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive screening in identifying individuals who might otherwise remain undiagnosed. Early identification facilitates timely treatment and provides opportunities to reduce TB transmission and prevent severe disease," the ministry said.

How The Intensified TB Screening Campaign Works

The first intensified 100-day campaign was launched on December 7, 2024, across 347 high-priority districts in 33 states and Union Territories. It was subsequently expanded nationwide to strengthen early detection, particularly among vulnerable and high-risk populations.

A second intensified 100-day campaign, launched on March 24, 2026, focused on screening in 1.58 lakh high-risk villages and wards, congregate settings and vulnerable populations.

Technology And Innovation In TB Diagnosis And Care

The campaign uses chest X-rays and rapid molecular diagnostic tests to identify and diagnose TB cases. Portable AI-enabled digital X-rays and other technology-enabled tools have also been deployed to strengthen screening and diagnosis.

• AI-enabled X-rays: Portable digital X-rays supported by artificial intelligence help strengthen screening and early detection.
• Rapid molecular testing: Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) enable faster TB diagnosis.
• Ni-kshay digital platform: Supports patient tracking, treatment monitoring and programme management, helping ensure continuity of care.
• Comorbidity screening: TB screening is integrated with the identification and management of diabetes, undernutrition and other comorbidities.

What Happens After TB Detection?

The campaign focuses on prompt treatment initiation, differentiated patient care, nutritional assistance and continued community-based support to improve treatment outcomes.

Through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, eligible patients receive financial assistance towards their nutritional requirements during treatment. The Ni-kshay Mitra initiative encourages individuals, institutions and organisations to provide nutritional and psychosocial support.

The ministry said 67,933 panchayats were declared TB-free in 2025, reflecting efforts to involve communities in India's TB elimination programme.

India Records 38% Decline In TB Mortality

According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, India's estimated TB mortality rate declined from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 18 per lakh in 2025, representing a 38% reduction.

The country also recorded a 94% treatment success rate among patients with drug-susceptible TB.

The government said 96% of the TB programme's funding requirements are being met through domestic resources.

Several viral social media trends promoting physical appearance and self-improvement have raised health concerns, with some encouraging potentially dangerous practices.

One such trend, known as "heightmaxxing", has prompted warnings from doctors after reports emerged of teenage boys taking black-market cancer drugs in an attempt to grow taller.

Aolescents are reportedly experimenting with erdafitinib, often referred to online as "ERDA" or "Erta", a prescription drug approved to treat advanced bladder cancer. The trend appears to have gained traction following online discussions suggesting the medication could increase height.

"It's extremely concerning that teenagers are experimenting with powerful cancer medications in an attempt to grow taller," Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician, told Fox News.

"These drugs were developed to treat serious medical conditions, not to enhance physical appearance, and taking them without a legitimate medical indication or physician supervision can have devastating consequences," Widmer added.

In a statement to magazine Rolling Stone, drugmaker Johnson & Johnson emphasised that erdafitinib has never been approved to stimulate height growth and that its safety and effectiveness have not been established in children or adolescents.

Can Erdafitinib Actually Increase Height?

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Medical research has documented unexpected growth spurts in children receiving erdafitinib for brain tumours. A 2024 study published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics described accelerated growth in two paediatric patients.

A separate case report documented a teenager who grew more than five inches during treatment but also developed serious skeletal complications.

However, doctors caution that these unexpected growth spurts do not necessarily indicate healthy skeletal development.

Dr. Jessica Gray, a family physician in Lubbock, Texas, warned that rapid, drug-induced growth could trigger dangerous structural problems, including premature growth plate damage and bone fractures, Fox News reported.

What Are The Health Risks Of Heightmaxxing With Cancer Drugs?

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Widmer noted that height is largely determined by genetics and that there are no shortcuts to increasing it. Once the growth plates close towards the end of puberty, medications cannot reopen them. This means older adolescents taking erdafitinib could face serious health risks without any prospect of gaining height, she said.

"One of the biggest concerns is that these medications can cause serious side effects, including potentially permanent vision damage, elevated phosphate levels and other metabolic abnormalities," Widmer said.

"We're talking about adolescents whose bodies are still developing, and exposing them to these risks for a cosmetic goal is particularly troubling."

Erdafitinib works by blocking specific cellular signalling pathways involved in cancer cell growth. These pathways also play a role in bone development, which may help explain the unexpected growth observed in some paediatric patients.

Other reported side effects include skeletal pain, particularly in the hips or knees, mouth sores, loose nails and skin disorders.

What Should Parents Do?

Doctors advise parents to watch for unusual joint pain or unexplained physical changes and speak openly with their children if they suspect they are using medications obtained online.

Teenagers concerned about their height or growth should consult a paediatrician rather than experiment with prescription drugs.

"We should be encouraging teenagers to prioritize their health, not teaching them to gamble with it," Widmer said. "No amount of additional height is worth risking permanent damage to your vision or other serious and potentially unknown medical complications."