Burundi’s health authorities are investigating an unidentified disease that has killed five people and infected 35 others in the northern district of Mpanda, as experts continue efforts to determine the cause and prevent further spread.
Preliminary laboratory tests have ruled out Ebola, Marburg virus disease and other major viral haemorrhagic fevers, according to health officials and the World Health Organization (WHO). Additional testing is ongoing for other infectious and environmental causes.
The outbreak was first reported in late March, with cases largely concentrated in household clusters, raising early concerns about either a common exposure or limited human-to-human transmission.
Patients have presented with severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and in some cases blood in urine, anaemia and jaundice, according to WHO-supported field reports.
The Burundi Ministry of Public Health, working in coordination with WHO, has deployed rapid response teams to Mpanda to conduct epidemiological investigations, laboratory sampling, contact tracing and infection prevention measures.
Following a visit to Mpanda Hospital attended by the acting head of the WHO country office, Burundi’s Minister of Public Health Lydwine Baradahana said investigations are continuing with WHO support to identify the cause of the illness and prevent any possible spread.
Health officials say surveillance has been strengthened in the affected area while samples are being further analysed in regional reference laboratories.
Health experts note that Mpanda lies near Burundi’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region with frequent cross-border movement and a history of infectious disease outbreaks, increasing the importance of rapid containment measures.
Authorities have urged the public to report symptoms early and adhere to hygiene and prevention guidelines as investigations continue.
While similar unexplained clusters have been reported in the region in recent years, including suspected viral and bacterial outbreaks, officials stress that no confirmed diagnosis has yet been established for the Mpanda cases.
The Ministry of Health says it will provide updates as laboratory results become available.
