06 Aug 2024 | 10:22 AM UTC
Burundi: Elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity reported in multiple areas in early August /update 1
Elevated (mpox) activity reported in multiple areas in Burundi in early August . Exercise basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity in multiple areas in Burundi, with a total of 193 suspected mpox cases, of which 37 were confirmed, reported July 25-Aug. 4. This is the first outbreak of mpox reported in Burundi. Sixteen districts of Burundi’s 49 health districts have reported at least one confirmed case, with Bujumbura Nord (11 cases) being the most affected, followed by Kayanza (4 cases), Rumonge (3 cases), Isare (3 cases), Bujumbura Centre (3 cases), and Nyanza-Lac (2 cases). Contact tracing and follow-ups are underway in affected areas. As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials will likely identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This report represents the most up-to-date information as of Aug. 6.
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas such as nightclubs and consider using safe sexual practices such as physical barriers (condoms) in countries reporting mpox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas, especially if you have had one or more new sexual partners. Vaccines are available.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected individuals (including intimate or sexual contact), infected animals, or through contact with contaminated materials. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 3-17 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
