Bujumbura, Burundi – The Burundian Ministry of Public Health has reported 193 cases of Mpox, with 231 total diagnoses as of August 25th. While no deaths have been recorded, the country faces significant challenges in combating the spread of the disease.
The majority of cases are concentrated in the North Bujumbura, Kayanza, and South Bujumbura districts, with 29 out of 49 districts reporting at least one positive case.
Burundi, a low-income nation, grapples with limited healthcare resources and personnel to effectively address the Mpox outbreak. Public health sensitization efforts are crucial but hindered by factors such as insufficient funding, equipment, and access to clean water and sanitation facilities, particularly in Bujumbura.
The government has allocated approximately one million dollars to combat the disease, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Africa.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been a public health concern in parts of Africa since the 1970s. However, the recent surge in cases internationally in 2022 prompted the WHO to declare a global health emergency. While that declaration was lifted, a new strain of the virus, known as clade Ib, has once again raised global concerns, leading to a renewed health emergency declaration this month.
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