#19,116
Caveat : Reports of `mystery' diseases are fairly common around the globe, and while these reports usually turn out to be something already known, on rare occasions they can alert us to a new, or re-emerging threat.
Yesterday on FluTrackers, Pathfinder posted two reports on a `mystery' illness affecting several households in Burundi, in east Africa. Since late March, at least 5 deaths, and roughly 3 dozen illnesses have been reported, `. . . primarily among members of the same household and close contacts.'
According to the WHO: `Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in urine, fatigue and abdominal pain. Some severe cases have also presented with jaundice and anaemia.'
So far, tests have ruled out many of the `usual suspects'; Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Further testing is underway.
While this could be something new, there are still a number of diagnoses that must be ruled out including infectious diseases like Severe Malaria, Leptospirosis, Enteric Fever, etc., environmental contaminants (heavy metals or pesticides), or food or alcohol poisoning.
The CIA Factbook describes Burundi as:
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture.
In Burundi, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by ▲ 19.6 years from 44.4 [43.5 - 45.4] years in 2000 to 64 [63.3 - 65] years in 2021.
But this still puts it in the bottom 20% among african nations. The WHO AFRO statement follows:
Burundi investigates illness that has caused five deaths
11 April 2026
Bujumbura—The health authorities in Burundi, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, are deepening investigations to determine the cause of an illness that has led to five deaths and sickened 35 people in Mpanda district in the north of the country.
Laboratory analysis has turned negative for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. An alert about the undiagnosed illness was received on 31 March 2026, primarily among members of the same household and close contacts. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in urine, fatigue and abdominal pain. Some severe cases have also presented with jaundice and anaemia.
“While it’s reassuring that preliminary analysis is negative for these serious infections, further investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the disease,” said Dr Lydwine Badarahana, Burundi’s Minister of Health. “All the necessary measures are being taken to safeguard public health and prevent potential spread of infection.”
A joint team of experts from the country’s public health emergency operations centre and the national reference laboratory has been deployed to the field to support ongoing investigations.
WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, laboratory diagnosis and infection prevention and control, while also providing logistical support to sustain key operations. The Organization has also facilitated the shipment of samples to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo for further analysis.
The Ministry of Health is leading the response, working with partner organizations to coordinate joint efforts.
