Burundi’s health ministry has reported three cases of mpox in its commercial capital, Bujumbura, and the nearby town of Isare. The cases were confirmed after testing by a local laboratory and the World Health Organization, according to Health Minister Lydwine Baradahana.
Two cases were identified in Bujumbura and one in Isare, approximately 30 km (18.64 miles) from the capital. “The three cases are being treated in health facilities and are getting better. Contact cases have been listed and their follow-ups are underway,” Baradahana said in a statement on Thursday.
She reassured the public that all necessary measures have been taken to manage the disease. The specific variant of the mpox virus was not disclosed.
Mpox, a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, has been endemic in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo for decades. A new variant of the clade I virus emerged last year. The infection spreads through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and a painful rash. While most cases are mild, mpox can be fatal.
In 2022, a less severe form of mpox, clade IIb, spread globally, primarily through sexual contact between men, prompting the WHO to declare a public health emergency. Although the emergency has ended, mpox remains a public health threat with ongoing cases.
