Burundi launched a major vaccination campaign to combat a growing measles cases, with Dr. Lydwine Baradahana, the Minister of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, calling for close collaboration between healthcare providers and community health workers. The campaign aims to vaccinate 1,143,165 children across the country against measles.
This effort comes as Burundi faces a serious monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak, which has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). In response, the Burundian government has allocated over 2.6 billion BIF to fund the epidemic response plan, which was officially approved on August 6, 2024.
The latest situation report, published on August 18, 2024, details a cumulative total of 153 confirmed Mpox cases, with 11 new cases identified recently. Although no fatalities have been reported, the number of active cases remains a concern, with 127 individuals currently undergoing treatment. Additionally, 27 new suspected cases have been reported, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 572.
Burundi’s geographical proximity to the Mpox epidemic zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to challenge containment efforts. The epidemic’s secondary attack rate of 3% underscores the need for vigilant and comprehensive response strategies. To date, 26 of the country’s 49 health districts have been affected by the outbreak, demonstrating the widespread impact of the crisis.
The dual focus on combating Mpox and preventing measles through an extensive vaccination campaign underscores Burundi’s commitment to enhancing public health amidst a challenging epidemiological environment.