Over the past few months, the Mpox outbreak in Burundi has rapidly evolved into a significant public health concern, with over a thousand confirmed cases reported as of October 31, 2024.
The outbreak places Burundi as the second most affected country in Africa, following the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which currently accounts for nearly 90% of the continent’s cases. While no deaths have been reported in Burundi, limited diagnostic resources and delayed testing suggest substantial underreporting.
What we know is that the outbreak disproportionately affects children, with over 52% of confirmed cases involving those under the age of 15.
Our staff in the country spoke with doctors, health workers, and community members during field visits organised as part of the ongoing Kaze Twiyunge project, a joint effort funded by the European Union to promote the sustainable reintegration of Burundian refugees returning home. This initiative includes improving and strengthening health services and facilities.
Léonard Eduard, a nurse at Buheka Hospital, where one positive case was registered among the staff, shared: “Part of the community didn’t know what Mpox was until now,” he explained. “We are implementing the same health measures that have been applied before, such as not touching people (whether at risk or not), not touching infected equipment, and also applying physical distance between people.”
According to Joselyne Nshimirimana, President of the Tujehamwe nursery group, people have started taking measures since hearing about the outbreak. “It’s now common to see specific hand-washing facilities in restaurants, meeting places, and trading centers,” she noted. However, she believes that medical staff and local authorities need to do more to raise awareness: “The grassroots community needs to be involved so that the message can be passed on to everyone,” she explained.
Louise Ndihokubwayo, a doctor at Busoni Hospital, shared similar concerns: “Healthcare providers don’t know how to manage Mpox, so there is a risk of infection,” she said.
“We lack resources: we don’t have enough supplies to deal with a potential increase in the number of positive cases in the future. Personal protective equipment for staff, financial resources, and capacity-building for providers to diagnose and manage Mpox are all insufficient,” Louise continued.
“We also need to find a way to decentralise diagnostic centers at the local level. This would be more effective and enable timely diagnosis,” she concluded.
With over 100 employees operating in the country since 1995, we have established a strong geographical presence and built close collaborations with government ministries and civil society actors. Building on our strong presence in Burundi and our ongoing WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and health programs, we are tackling the Mpox outbreak by mobilising and supporting community response teams with technical and logistical assistance.
Our approach focuses on empowering local communities to take an active role in epidemic response efforts, ensuring a more effective way to combat outbreaks like Mpox.
