U.S. boosts passenger screening as Africa grapples with deadly Marburg and mpox outbreaks

Scientists are warning that the world must learn from the unpreparedness of the COVID-19 pandemic, as two new viral outbreaks are causing concern among health officials. Rwanda is currently dealing with its first Marburg virus outbreak, a deadly virus related to Ebola. With 62 confirmed cases, 38 recoveries, and 15 deaths, health officials are working to contain the spread. While there are no licensed vaccines or treatments for Marburg, progress is being made in clinical trials. New screening measures have been implemented for travelers arriving in the U.S. from Rwanda. The outbreak highlights the increasing risk of deadly virus outbreaks due to factors like deforestation and climate change. Health officials are concerned about the rise in outbreaks of Marburg and mpox viruses in Africa. Marburg outbreaks used to be rare but are now more frequent, with Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, and Ghana dealing with recent outbreaks. Rwandan doctors are testing treatments for Marburg, while the mpox virus has been declared a global health emergency by the WHO due to a new variant spreading rapidly. The Africa CDC is struggling to contain the outbreaks due to a lack of vaccines and funding. The rise in cases is attributed to the lack of immunity from discontinued smallpox vaccines. Uganda and Zimbabwe have reported new cases of mpox, highlighting the urgency of the situation.