East Africa is witnessing a sharp rise in mpox cases, with Burundi recently confirming 171 cases in key border areas. The outbreak has sparked concern across the region and beyond, as global cases continue to climb.
One of the affected individuals, Samuel Nduwimana, shared his harrowing experience from an isolation ward in Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital. “I felt very sick and scared; I couldn’t even walk anymore,” Nduwimana recounted. His face and upper body were marked with painful lesions, typical of the disease.
Nduwimana initially mistook his symptoms for malaria, experiencing a loss of appetite, fever, and a painful pimple on his genitals. “I didn’t even know what I was suffering from,” he said, explaining how his condition deteriorated before he sought medical help.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted to humans through infected animals and close physical contact with infected individuals. Although it has been recognized for decades, a new, more transmissible and deadly strain known as Clade 1b has fueled the recent increase in cases.
Burundi, which confirmed 171 cases earlier this week, is not alone in battling the outbreak. Kenya reported its second case on Friday, while neighboring Uganda has documented four cases. The global situation is also alarming, with reports of mpox in Europe and Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to declare an international health emergency.
Burundian health authorities are racing to contain the spread. Dr. Odette Nsavyimana, who treats infected patients, described the severity of the cases. “Sometimes patients come in a severe, critical condition with a fever of 39 degrees Celsius,” she said, noting the intense pain and itchiness caused by the lesions, which require urgent treatment.
The King Khaled Teaching Hospital in Bujumbura offers free treatment and can accommodate around 50 patients, according to Liliane Nkengurutse, the national director for the Centre for Public Health Emergency Operations. Nkengurutse highlighted the increasing number of cases, particularly from “hot zones” along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “Cases [are now] almost all over the country,” she said.
The DRC has reported a staggering 16,700 cases and more than 570 deaths this year alone, as stated by the country’s health minister. In contrast, Burundi has managed to avoid fatalities so far, thanks to early detection and prompt treatment. “We still don’t have any deaths because we’re lucky enough to detect cases quickly and take care of them early,” Nkengurutse explained.
Nduwimana, who expressed gratitude for the care he received, urged others who suspect they might have mpox to seek medical attention immediately. “They need to rush to the hospital for treatment,” he advised. “This epidemic is very serious. It hurts a lot, you’re in too much pain, and you don’t know what to do.”
