Culture

Outbreak of Marburg virus forces Rwanda to limit funeral sizes

Published

2 months ago

September 30, 2024

The outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Rwanda has forced authorities to restrict funeral sizes for victims in an effort to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease.

In new guidelines to halt the spread of Marburg, the Rwandan Health Ministry said no more than 50 people should attend the funeral of a person who died from the disease.

So far, eight people have died during Rwanda’s first outbreak of the virus, which was confirmed on Friday by the nation’s Health Ministry.

On Saturday when the official death toll was put at six, Rwanda’s Health Minister said most of the victims were healthcare workers in a hospital intensive care unit.

Director of the Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Dr Nahid Bhadelia, who spoke with BBC’s Newsday programme, said curbing the virus’s spread may be challenging as most reported cases have been in the densely populated capital city, Kigali, while previous outbreaks have often been in remote rural areas where they are are easier to contain.

She added that there is hope as Rwanda has “a lot better infrastructure and history of public health coordination that many other countries”.

The country’s Health Minister said on Sunday that officials were tracking about 300 people who had come into contact with individuals affected by the Marburg virus.

To this end, the authorities have urged the public to practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing as this is the first time Marburg has been confirmed in Rwanda.

Marburg virus which has a fatality rate of up to 88%, is from the same virus family as Ebola and spreads to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.

Marburg virus can bring on symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, can cause death through extreme blood loss.

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Culture

Chidimma Adetshina makes history as she emerges first runner-up for Miss Universe 2024

Published

6 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Chidimma Adetshina, Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss Universe Competition held in Mexico, made history as she finished as the first runner-up at the pageant.

The reigning Miss Universe Nigeria finished on the podium of the event held at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Sunday morning after an electrifying final face-off between Nigeria and Denmark, as the two women looked poised to claim the crown.

Adetshina, who competed against over 120 contestants from around the world, delivered Nigeria’s best-ever performance in the prestigious competition.

The competition, which was described as one of the most thrilling in recent years, celebrated the talents, intelligence, and elegance of women from around the globe.

A post by the pageant organizers on Instagram said:

“The final two! Nigeria and Denmark, two incredible women, one unforgettable moment.

“Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, ultimately won the crown taking over from Miss Universe 2023, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.”

The top five were rounded out by Miss Mexico, María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa, in third place, along with contestants from Thailand and Venezuela.

This year’s pageant was celebrated as one of the most inclusive in Miss Universe history, featuring first-time entries from Iran and Somalia and an expanded lineup of 30 semifinalists, showcasing greater diversity and global representation.

Chidimma’s path to the Miss Universe Nigeria was controversial at best as she had previously entered the Miss South Africa pageant but withdrew following criticism of her nationality and allegations from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs concerning her mother’s documents.

She was later invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria and emerged as the winner of the beauty pageant ahead of 24 other contestants.

Culture

Tyla set to drop new single ‘Tears’ on November 20

Published

3 days ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African “Ampiona” crooner, Tyla, is set to thrill her fans to her new single titled, “Tears’, which is set to drop on November 20.

According to a statement by her management team, Tyla’s fans should expect something different from the “Water” singer as she is set to release a brand-new single in collaboration with Coke Studio.

“This exciting partnership follows her announcement as part of the Coke Studio 2024 line-up alongside R&B star Usher Raymond in September,” the statement said.

Tyla who is fondly called the “Pretty girl from Joburg,” also took to her Instagram page to share the news with her fans.

Posting a snippet of the video on her Instagram story with the caption, “‘Tears’ coming November 20th! A song in partnership with @CocaCola”, confirming the November release date, she urged her fans to look forward to something different from what they are used to.

The brand has also shared on its social media platforms that Tyla will be performing this highly-anticipated single when she returns to Johannesburg, South Africa, at a special Coke Studio live event.

In an interview with Coke Studio, the 22-year-old singer shared how she breaks away from her original sound with “Tears”.

“I feel like in a lot of my songs, I’m dancing a lot. I really wanted a song where I could just sing, be more raw with people, and showcase my voice this time,” she said.

Snippets from the new single has showcases Tyla’s enchanting vocals, revealing a more vulnerable side that is different from her previous work.

“Breaking away from the amapiano and pop sound she’s best known for, Tyla embarks on an exciting new journey with this project,” one of the reviews said.

“Through “Tears”, she wants to connect with listeners in a raw, captivating way as she partners with Coke Studio to bring this new sound to life.’