Burundi - Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak 2024-2025

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Gitega Province
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gitega_Province
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Gitega: Mpox epidemic in an overcrowded detention center

October 20, 2024

An outbreak of Mpox has hit the Gitega police station, also highlighting the alarming sanitary conditions and critical overcrowding in the detention center. Cases have been confirmed among detainees, raising serious concerns about the rapid spread of the disease in the confined environment.

The police station's dungeon, designed to accommodate 30 people, currently houses more than 100 inmates. This extreme overcrowding forces prisoners to sleep in shifts, with some remaining standing while others rest in a cramped space. The unsanitary conditions of the premises are aggravated by the lack of hygiene and the presence of parasites.

In this context, an outbreak of Mpox has occurred. The majority of prisoners have skin rashes, a characteristic symptom of the disease. Positive cases have been confirmed and are currently being treated in local health facilities.

Despite the urgency of the situation, systematic screening has not been implemented, leaving many potential cases undiagnosed. This neglect could lead to rapid spread within the prison, delayed access to care for infected prisoners, and a risk of dissemination into the community when infected prisoners are released.

Families of the detainees are sounding the alarm, urging authorities to take immediate steps to improve conditions, conduct comprehensive screening, provide adequate medical care and prevent the spread of the disease beyond prison walls.

https://www.rpa.bi/index.php/actualites/8sante/gitega-epidemie-de-mpox-dans-un-centre-de-detention-surpeuple

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Multi-country external situation report no. 38, published 28 September 2024
...
Focus on Burundi

Since the onset of the outbreak in July 2024, the virus has spread geographically in Burundi where 35 of
the 49 (71%) national districts have been affected (Figure 6, left). The three districts of Bujumbura city are
the most affected, accounting for around 60% of the national cases. In the last four weeks, 32 districts
(65%) have reported at least one confirmed mpox case (Figure 6, right).
...
As of 22 September 2022, 54% of confirmed cases in Burundi are male. The most affected age groups
are adults and children under 5 years of age, with the latter comprising around 30% of confirmed cases
Since the outbreak began, of the 1879 suspected mpox cases, 1743 (93%) were tested; among these,
696 were confirmed by PCR (positivity 40%) (Figure 7) with test positivity rising in recent weeks.

...

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/...september-2024

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Gatumba: Schools without washing kits to fight against mpox

09/23/2024 Jules Bercy Igiraneza and Alexandrine Ndayishimiye 0

Children aged 5 to 19 now account for 33% of MPOX cases across the country, as indicated in the UNICEF report of 17 September 2024. In the Gatumba area, several schools do not have washing kits and a positive case of MPOX has been confirmed. The population is launching an appeal to the government and Regideso.

“The increasing number of cases of MPOX among children in Burundi, including children under five, is extremely worrying, and protecting them is our top priority ,” said France Bégin, UNICEF Representative in Burundi. We are in the Gatumba area, Mutimbuzi commune, Bujumbura province. It is 10 a.m. at Gatumba I, II, III primary school and Mushasha I and II mobile schools. There is no washing facility in place to combat monkeypox. Students continue to shake hands and play together as usual.

"We don't wash our hands before entering the classroom. We play together during recess. We don't know much about this disease. The barrier measures to combat what you have just informed us about are not being respected ," says a 4th grade student.

A parent met at the Mushasha I mobile school explains his concern about monkeypox. “We are afraid of this disease for our children. We have heard that the number of positive cases has increased and it is children who are the most affected. These schools do not even have washing kits, it is terrible.”

On Kinyinya II hill in this area, at Warubondo basic school, a positive case of monkey pox in a child of the 2nd year was confirmed. Teachers of this school fear that the disease will spread in the establishment.

"We have had a positive case here in Warubondo. We fear that this child has infected his classmates. We ask parents to watch over their children so that at the slightest sign of this disease, they take the child directly to the hospital ," adds the parents' representative.

Lack of financial resources and drinking water

The problem of drinking water is the main concern raised by the population of Gatumba. They say that with this untimely shortage of water, nothing ensures their good health in this period of resurgence of monkeypox.

"We don't have drinking water to fight this disease. Sometimes, my children go to school without washing and sleep without washing because of the lack of water. Only God protects us, otherwise we would all have been affected by mpox ," laments Ange, a resident of the Gatumba area.

When questioned, the zone chief, Jean Muyoboke, said that the issue of the devices in schools had been reported to the municipal education department.

"It is true that we have little drinking water in our area, but these schools also do not have the means to buy washing kits. With the flood that has hit our area, we will ask that the government and non-governmental organizations come to the aid of these schools and our area in general."

It should be recalled that since the confirmation of the first case on July 25, 2024, Burundi has recorded 564 confirmed cases of MPOX, 62.9% of which concern children under 19 years of age. In addition, the country has reported more than 1,576 suspected cases. The epidemic has led to 1,774 alerts in 34 of the country's 49 health districts, with the three districts of Bujumbura being at the heart of the crisis.

"The most affected districts are Bujumbura Nord (43%), Bujumbura Sud (11%), Bujumbura Centre/Isare and Gitega (6% each), and Kayanza (5%). No deaths have been reported so far ," UNICEF said.

In response to this alarming situation, UNICEF has launched an urgent appeal for $58.8 million to support response efforts in six African countries affected by the outbreak, including Burundi. This funding aims to stop transmission of the virus, protect children and ensure the continuity of essential services in affected areas.

https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/gatumba-des-ecoles-sans-kits-de-lavage-pour-lutter-contre-mpox/

[Mary Wilson]

Mpox spreads at alarming rate among children in Burundi

September 20, 2024 2:03 PM
By Lisa Schlein

GENEVA — The United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, warned Friday that children in Burundi are bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak, with cases of this deadly, infectious disease spreading at an alarming rate among a young population.

“Of the nearly 600 reported cases, two-thirds are in children under 19. The situation has escalated rapidly, with a more-than-40% increase in cases over the past three weeks,” Dr. Paul Ngwakum, UNICEF’s regional health adviser for Eastern and Southern Africa, told journalists in Geneva via video link Friday. ...

... he (Dr. Paul Ngwakum, UNICEF’s regional health adviser for Eastern and Southern Africa) said the rise of mpox among children under the age of 5 is of particular concern as they represent 30% of the reported cases. This, he said, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect children from becoming infected as schools have reopened this week. ...

https://www.voanews.com/a/mpox-spreads-at-alarming-rate-among-children-in-burundi/7792425.html

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Mpox: In Burundi, a third of cases are school-age children

POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

UNICEF steps up efforts to fight smallpox as children return to school across the country.

Bujumbura, 17 September 2024 – School-age children, aged 5 to 19, now account for 33% of Mpox cases in Burundi, presenting a new challenge as families prepare for the upcoming school year.

“ The growing number of Mpox cases among children in Burundi, including children under five, is of great concern, and protecting them is our top priority , ” said France Bégin, UNICEF Representative in Burundi. “In addition, it is essential to ensure that all children can return to school safely in the midst of this outbreak. Our teams are working closely with the Ministry of Education to put in place health measures in schools, protect students and avoid further disruptions to education.”

Since the first confirmed case on 25 July 2024, Burundi has reported 564 smallpox cases, 62.9% of whom are under 19 years of age, and over 1,576 suspected cases. There have been 1,774 alerts in 34 of the country’s 49 health districts, with the three health districts in Bujumbura being the epicentre of the outbreak.

Children and vulnerable communities have borne the brunt of the spread of Mpox across East and Southern Africa. As more than 3 million Burundian children return to school from 16 September 2024, UNICEF and the Government are stepping up efforts to ensure they can return safely to school amid the Mpox outbreak.

...

https://www.unicef.fr/article/mpox-au-burundi-un-tiers-des-cas-sont-des-enfants-en-age-daller-a-lecole/

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Monkeypox: Head of government calls for all-out mobilization

03/09/2024 Gateretse

A national mobilization meeting against monkeypox (MPOX) was held this Monday, September 2, 2024 in Bujumbura, under the aegis of the Burundian Prime Minister, Gervais Ndirakobuca, as well as other senior officials from the ministries concerned.

The Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, Dr Lydwine Baradahana, indicated that since the declaration of the epidemic in Burundi, more than "300 cases of Mpox have been confirmed, 180 people suffering from this disease have already been cured but more than 160 others are still hospitalized."

According to the Minister of Health, Bujumbura is the most affected health district, notably the commune of Ntahangwa which alone has 147 cases, followed by the health district of the province of Kayanza.

This situation is partly linked to the water shortage that is affecting several municipalities in the economic capital. No cases of death linked to the disease have been recorded so far, as Dr. Lydwine Baradahana pointed out.

The mayor of the city of Bujumbura, Jimmy Hatungimana, requested the Prime Minister's intervention with REGIDESO to improve the distribution of drinking water in the city and thus contribute to the fight against the monkeypox epidemic.

The Minister of Public Health deplored the fact that the majority of Burundians behave as if the epidemic does not exist, which contributes to its spread.

During the meeting, participants called on local authorities to reintroduce handwashing facilities in all places where large numbers of people gather. "Those who do not respect this measure must be punished."

Among the recommendations, the population was asked to avoid unprotected sex and not to eat undercooked meat or game. "Restaurants and bars that do not comply with hygiene measures will have to close."

That's not all as recommendations: the participants in this meeting of mobilization against monkeypox asked that there be continuation of awareness so that the population can protect itself. But they insisted on the distribution of drinking water especially in Bujumbura where the epidemic is raging.

Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca said that monkeypox is easier to eradicate than COVID-19 and called for general mobilization against this epidemic.

https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/variole-du-singe-le-chef-du-gouvernement-en-appelle-a-une-mobilisation-tous-azimuts/

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Monkeypox: Health Minister sounds the alarm

September 3, 2024

On Monday morning, during a meeting with health and administrative officials, the Minister of Health, Lidwine Baradahana, revealed worrying figures regarding the outbreak of Monkeypox, also known as monkeypox. Since the outbreak began on July 25 this year, cases of the disease have continued to increase.

Minister Baradahana stressed that the figures reflect a rapid spread of the disease, which continues to intensify day by day. Since the beginning of the outbreak, 1,100 people have launched an emergency appeal due to worrying symptoms.

According to her, among the 950 people diagnosed, 313 have been admitted to hospital for medical follow-up. Currently, 165 patients remain under treatment, while 148 have been able to return home after receiving the necessary care.

Minister Baradahana expressed concern about the rapid spread of monkeypox and called for increased vigilance. “The disease spreads very quickly and takes time to heal, which requires a coordinated and rapid response from all stakeholders ,” she said.

The situation is worrying, and health authorities are stepping up their efforts to contain the epidemic and limit its spread. The public is also urged to follow health recommendations to protect themselves and avoid transmission of the virus.

https://boneshafm.bi/?p=14155

[sharon sanders]

241 total cases announced at WHO media event August 28

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/new-...nation-6394234

"New Variant": 171 Confirmed Mpox Cases Recorded In This Nation
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals that can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.
World NewsAgence France-PresseUpdated: August 22, 2024 8:19 pm IST

Kenya:

Burundi has confirmed 171 cases of mpox, the health minister said on Thursday, following confirmation of the first cases in the country last month.

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals that can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

"We already had a cumulative of 171 confirmed positive cases, 137 of which are still active," Health Minister Polycarpe Ndayikeza told AFP.

"So far there have been no deaths from mpox in Burundi," he added.

Three cases of mpox were detected in Burundi in late July, with the health ministry reporting 153 confirmed cases on August 18.

"The epidemic continues to gain ground," the ministry said last month, adding it was in the process of creating isolation wards in district hospitals to care for mpox patients.

An official told AFP the cases detected appeared to be the "new variant" spreading in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo...

[sharon sanders]

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Burundi

On 25 July 2024, the Ministry of Health of Burundi declared an outbreak of mpox following the confirmation of three cases by the National Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Public Health. These cases were identified on 22 July; one case from Kamenge University Hospital, a second case from Kamenge Military Hospital, and the third case from Isare Health District. They reported symptom onset on 24 July including fever, joint pain, and a widespread rash. Samples collected during a multidisciplinary investigation tested positive for mpox on 25 July with PCR. These are the first confirmed mpox cases ever identified in Burundi.

As of 17 August 2024, there had been 545 alerts of mpox cases since the outbreak declaration, of which 474 suspected cases (86.9%) had been investigated and validated. Of 358 suspected cases tested, 142 (39.7%) tested positive for MPXV. Genomic sequencing analysis has confirmed clade Ib MPXV. No deaths were reported as of 17 August.

Confirmed cases have been reported from 26 of the 49 districts (53.1%). The most affected district is Bujumbura Nord, an urban area, with 54 of the 142 confirmed cases (38%). No deaths had been documented at the time of reporting.

Males account for 55.6% of the cases and females for 44.4%. Children under the age of five years make up 60.3% of the cases, followed by those aged from 11 to 20 years (42.6%), and those aged from 21 to 30 years (38.2%).

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/national-international-government-ngo-preparation-response/who-oms/995580-who-disease-outbreak-news-mpox-african-region-august-22-2024

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Mpox: 171 cases recorded in Burundi

AFP / August 22, 2024 at 3:38 p.m., updated at 3:42 p.m.

Burundi has recorded 171 confirmed cases of the mpox virus, the health ministry announced on Thursday, after the first cases were discovered last month in the African Great Lakes country.

"Until yesterday evening (Wednesday), we already had a cumulative total of 171 confirmed positive cases, including 137 still active in at least 26 of the 49 health districts in our country," a ministry spokesman, Polycarpe Ndayikeza, told AFP. "So far, there have been no deaths from mpox in Burundi," he added.

At the end of July, Burundi announced that it had recorded three first cases of MPOX. On August 18, the authorities reported 153 confirmed cases.

A health ministry official told AFP that "the new variant" of the virus currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is also the one spreading in Burundi.

In parallel with a resurgence of MPOX cases in Africa, a new, more transmissible and more deadly variant, clade 1b, emerged in September in the DRC.

The resurgence of MPOX in the DRC, driven by this new variant - which has also appeared in other East African countries, Sweden and Asia - prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, the highest level of health alert.

MPOX is a viral disease that spreads from animals to humans but is also transmitted through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscle aches and skin lesions.

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1424628/mpox-171-cas-recenses-au-burundi.html

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SITUATION REPORT ON THE MONKEYPOX EPIDEMIC
SITREP N° 026 Written and Published on 19- August - 2024

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

New confirmed cases 07
Cumulative confirmed cases 160
Discharged 30
Active cases 130
Total Deaths 00
New suspected cases 33
Suspected cases validated after investigation 27
Cumulative suspected cases 605
Affected districts 26 DS out of 49

...

https://www.cousp-minisante.gov.bi/uploads/pub_attachement/66c434758db26_Burundi_SITREP_Chol%C3%A9ra_du_19_Ao%C3%BBt_2024.pdf

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MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT
SITREP N° 023 Written and Published on 16- August - 2024

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

New confirmed cases 23
Cumulative confirmed cases 142
Discharged 24
Active cases 118
Total Deaths 00
New suspected cases 16
Suspected cases validated after investigation 25
Cumulative suspected cases 499
Affected districts 26 DS out of 49
...

https://www.cousp-minisante.gov.bi/uploads/pub_attachement/66c2e028db314_Burundi_SITREP_Monkey_Pox_du_16_Aout_2024.pdf

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MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT
SITREP N° 022 Written and Published on 15- August - 2024

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

New confirmed cases 16
Cumulative confirmed cases 119
Discharged 24
Active cases 95
Total Deaths 00
New suspected cases 19
Suspected cases validated after investigation 7
Cumulative suspected cases 483
Affected districts 24 DS out of 49
...

https://www.cousp-minisante.gov.bi/uploads/pub_attachement/66bef4256fc50_Burundi_SITREP_Monkey_Pox_du_15_Aout _2024_(3).pdf

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MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT
SITREP N° 021 Written and Published on 14-August-2024

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

New confirmed cases 03
Cumulative confirmed cases 103
Discharged 24
Active cases 79
Total Deaths 00
New suspected cases 65
Suspected cases validated after investigation 38
Cumulative suspected cases 464
Affected districts 23 DS out of 49
...
As of 14-August 2024, the cumulative confirmed cases of MPox is 103, of which 43.7% are female and 56.3% are male. The most affected age groups are those from 0 to 5 years old; 11 to 20 years and 21 to 30 years with proportions of 38.2%; 32.4% and 27.9% respectively.
...

https://www.cousp-minisante.gov.bi/Publications/singlepostPub/4NQFgllziUZwCHSlShWKqHaX26ednGWkhXNerGmQNpLs2Puh2M2igLbTQKylTpiImX9PM1oQO19ou9LipLs2Yif9Lu4OvdzyRLlTko8h0VC3Wb6TpLs4UeAyp098JefMKUTjPEk20

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MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT
SITREP N° 014 Written and Published on 07- August - 2024

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

New confirmed case 03
Cumulative confirmed cases 61
New suspected cases 08
Suspected case investigated and validated 01
Cumulative suspected cases 226
Affected districts 22 out of 49 DS are affected
...
II. Epidemiological evolution

II.1. Notification of suspected cases

As of 07.08.2024, 08 suspected cases have been notified in 6 districts; they are added to a cumulative of
22 suspected cases not yet investigated. All these suspected cases are distributed in 15/49 districts
(detailed in the table below).

The investigation process of these 30 suspected cases is underway.
...
The cumulative number of suspected cases since the beginning of the epidemic amounts to 226, of which 205 have been
investigated and validated, representing an investigation rate of 90.7%. A total of 61 suspected cases have tested
positive.
...
II. 2. Confirmed cases and their origins by district

Three cases have been recorded as of August 7. Twenty-two (22) districts out of the 49 health districts
in the country have at least one confirmed case of MPox, representing 45% of the districts. A total of 142
tests were carried out, of which 61 tests came back positive for Mpox, i.e. a positivity rate of 42.9%...
As of 07-August 2024, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of MPox is 61, of which 52.5% are male
and 47.5% are female. The most affected age groups are 0 to 5, 31 to 40 and 11 to 20 years, with proportions
of 26.2%, 24.6% and 19.7% respectively. They are distributed in 22 health districts of 11 health provinces.

...
https://www.cousp-minisante.gov.bi/Publications/singlepostPub/4NQFgllziUZwCHSlShWKqHaX26ednGWkhXNerGmQNpLs2Puh2M 2igLbTQKylTpiImX9PM1oQO19ou9LipLs2Yif9Lu4OvdzyRLlT ko8h0VC3Wb6TpLs4UeAyp098JefMKUTjPEk20