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.

Every year on March 24, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, 10.7 to 10.8 million people fell ill with TB, globally in 2023-2024. This has made TB the world's top infectious killers. While many countries have been able to successfully reduce the cases of TB, there has been resurgence of the disease in Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. While in the United States and in high-income European nations, the infection levels remain low, however, the disease has not been fully eradicated.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Theme

This is why, this year's theme is 'Yes! We can end TB!' As per the WHO, this is a bold call to action and a message of hope that affirms that it is possible to get back on track and turn the tide on the TB epidemic, even in a challenging global environment. With decisive country leadership, increased domestic and international investment, rapid uptake of new WHO recommendations and innovations, accelerated action, and strong multisectoral collaboration, ending TB is not just aspirational - it is achievable.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Origin

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it was on March 24, 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the germ that causes tuberculosis (TB). A century later, in 1982, the global health community recognized March 24 as World TB Day.

In 1882, the disease killed one in seven people in the US and Europe, however, Koch's discovery was significant in the elimination of TB disease.

The CDC also notes that TB germs may have been around as long as 3 million years. During ancient times, TB had several names, for instance, it was called:

• "Phthisis" in ancient Greek,
• "Tabes" in ancient Latin, and
• "Schachepheth" in ancient Hebrew.
• During the Middle Ages, health care providers referred to active TB disease of the neck and lymph nodes as "scrofula."
• In the 1700s, people referred to TB disease as "the white plague" due to the pale complexion of people with TB disease.
• In the 1800s, people called TB disease "consumption." In 1834, Johann Schonlein named the disease "tuberculosis."
• In 1909, Clemens von Pirquet invented the term "latent TB infection" to refer to inactive TB.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Significance

World TB Day is held annually on March 24 to raise awareness, mobilize funding, reduce stigma, and accelerate global efforts to end the tuberculosis epidemic. This disease kills thousands daily and is thus a critical call for action on prevention and treatment is important.

World Tuberculosis Day: What Is TB?

As per a Singapore Government Agency Website called Communicable Disease Agency or CDA, TB is an infectious airborne disease caused by Mycobacteirum tuberculosis.It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of your body, such as the brain, lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, and joints.

The disease is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and usually requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individuals. It cannot spread through touch or kissing.

Common Symptoms Of TB

• Persistent cough (two weeks or more)
• Persistent fever
• Coughing blood or sputum
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pain

While you may be buying fast-fashion clothes that are easy on your pocket and also give your children trendy looks, a new study highlights the risk of being laced with a highly toxic ingredient: lead.

The preliminary research, based on lab tests of several shirts from different retailers in the US, found that all the samples exceeded the country’s federal regulatory lead limits.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission currently has a 100 parts per million (ppm) lead limit for children's products like toys and clothing.

"I started to see many articles about lead in clothing from fast fashion, and I realized not too many parents knew about the issue," said Kamila Deavers, principal investigator of the study, at Marian University in the US.

Deavers began the study after her young daughter’s lab reports showed elevated levels of lead in her blood from toy coatings.

How was study conducted?

The team tested 11 shirts that spanned the rainbow—red, pink, orange, yellow, gray, and blue. All brightly colored fabrics, particularly reds and yellows, showed higher levels of lead compared to more muted tones.

"We saw that the shirts we tested were all over the allowed limit for lead of 100 ppm," said Priscila Espinoza, from Marina.

The researchers explained that some manufacturers use lead (II) acetate as an inexpensive way to help dyes stick to the materials and produce bright, long-lasting color.

Children At Greater Risk

The researchers found the risk is particularly higher among younger kids as they tend to playfully suck or chew their clothes during play.

"Even briefly chewing these fabrics could expose children to dangerous lead levels,” they found in the study, to be presented at the forthcoming meeting of the American Chemical Society.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead exposure can lead to behavior problems, brain and central nervous system damage, as well as other negative health effects in children.

The agency considers children under six years old to be most at risk from exposure. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
• Slowed growth
• Hearing Problems
• Anemia

The researchers also pointed out safer alternatives to lead-based dyeing agents that already exist. These include natural and less harmful substances such as:

• Plant-based tannins (e.g., oak bark, pomegranate peel)
• Rosemary
• Alum.

In a surprising video, a woman who ordered a tub of Kwality Wall's Frozen Dessert - Fruit & Nut in Rajasthan found the bottom of the container filled mostly with oil, raising questions about the quality of the product.

In the clip, the distressed customer was heard saying: "It is not even melting and has a weird flavor. I am never eating this ice cream again. I have asked my husband not to purchase this again. It was my favourite ice cream, but now I feel very disappointed."

However, after the post went viral, many X users pointed out that the brand sells frozen dessert, instead of ice cream and that frozen dessert contains palm oil which could explain why she found oil floating inside the container.

What Did Kwality Wall's Say?

As the video continued to go viral across the country, an official spokesperson of Kwality Walls India Limited confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the product's quality.

Speaking about what could have gone wrong, they told NDTV: "Given that ice cream/frozen dessert requires a continuous cold chain from factory to outlet and then to the freezer at consumers' homes, and as it is a sensitive product, temperature variations-especially during peak summer-can impact it.

"We are closely examining all stages of the supply chain for any deviations in storage or handling at the front end. We continue to work with our partners to ensure strict adherence to temperature-controlled protocols until the product reaches consumers' homes."

READ MORE: Zepto Customer Claims To Find 'Plastic' Inside Eggs, FSSAI Says Impossible

Frozen Desserts vs Ice Cream

Ice cream is essentially defined a frozen food dessert made from dairy products, such as milk and cream. For a product to qualify as ice cream, it has to contain atleast 10 percent milk fat and have a rich, creamy texture.

Often, natural color is used in ice cream to enhance its visual appeal, maintaining a healthier alternative to artificial dyes. The process involves churning a sweetened mixture of cream, milk, and flavors while freezing, incorporating air to create a light and airy consistency.

On the other hand, frozen desserts are typically made of a mixture of fats (vegetable oil or milk fat), sweeteners (sugar, glucose), milk solids and stabilizers/emulsifiers to create a smooth, creamy texture. They include diverse range of options, from fruit-based sorbets to creamy non-dairy alternatives.

Unlike ice creams, frozen desserts often use vegetable fats like palm oil, along with additives to manage texture and hold their shape longer when melting, and often have higher stabilizer content.

Due to being made from hydrogenated vegetable oils as well as are high in added sugars, saturated fats and processed ingredients, most frozen desserts are not considered healthy.

While some options have lower calories or fat than traditional ice cream, they are considered ultra-processed treats.

Experts recommend looking for fewer ingredients, less sugar, and dairy-based rather than palm-oil-based options as well as opting for single-serve items like small bars or cups to avoid overeating to stay healthy.