20 Jul 2017 | 01:56 AM UTC
Burundi: 4000 people killed in malaria epidemic in 2017
4000 people killed in ongoing malaria epidemic since the beginning of 2017; at least 2 million cases reported
Event
Approximately 4000 people in Burundi have died of malaria since the beginning of 2017 according to updated numbers released by the United Nations (UN) earlier in the year; these numbers are believed to have risen further as of July. At least 2 million cases of the disease have been reported since January 2017, and 9 million since the beginning of 2016, leading UN officials to state that the number of malaria cases reported are "well beyond the epidemic threshold." Districts most severely impacted by the disease include Gitega (204,487 cases), Nyabikere (202,010 cases), Kibuye (193,371 cases), Buhiga (189,379 cases), and Kirundo (156,212 cases).
Some experts blame a changing climate and the introduction of rice crops in the highlands as the root causes of the epidemic, which has also contributed to, and been exacerbated, by the ongoing food crisis; the UN estimates 3 million people in the country (with a population of only 11 million) are in immediate need of food assistance.
Context
Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and body aches. Early symptoms usually appear between ten and 15 days after the contaminating mosquito bite. There is no vaccine but preventive medications are available. Pregnant women, HIV-positive persons, children under the age of five, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.
Advice
To minimize the risk of contracting malaria or the many other mosquito-borne diseases present in Burundi, use insect repellent, wear covering clothing, and sleep under mosquito netting or in an air conditioned room. If you develop a high fever during or after travel in areas affected by malaria, seek immediate medical attention.
More generally, individuals traveling to Burundi should bring with them a sufficient supply of all necessary medication. All travelers are advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance (covering emergency evacuation) prior to departure. For those in Bujumbura, frequent flashpoints of violence should be avoided, including the Cibitoke, Jabe, Kamenge, Kanyosha, Kinama, Musaga, Mutakura, Ngagara, and Nyakabiga neighborhoods and Bujumbura Rural province. Finally, it is advisable to keep in mind that crime rates are high throughout Burundi and criminals are often armed.
