Burundi: Nationwide malaria outbreak

Event

According to a report released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday, June 10, a malaria outbreak has infected over three million people nationwide between January and May 2019. At least 1273 related deaths have been reported.

Further spread of the outbreak is to be expected over the coming weeks.

Context

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and body aches; early symptoms usually appear between seven and 15 days after the contaminating mosquito bite. There is no vaccine but preventive medications are available.

Advice

Individuals in Burundi are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito netting or in an air conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).