An outbreak of an acute infectious disease of unknown etiology has been recorded in the East African region, specifically in the Republic of Burundi. Since late March 2026, 35 cases of infection have been identified in the Mpanda District in the northern part of the country, five of which resulted in fatalities.
The clinical presentation of this unidentified illness includes the following symptoms: hyperthermia (high fever), vomiting, diarrhea, hematuria (blood in the urine), asthenia (pronounced weakness), and abdominal pain. In severe clinical cases, patients exhibited jaundice (icterus) and anemia. According to epidemiological research, transmission primarily occurs within family clusters.
The Ministry of Health of Burundi reported the outbreak to the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 31, 2026. Currently, active fieldwork is underway at the epicenter of the outbreak, encompassing early case detection, isolation, and contact tracing. To verify the etiological agent, biological samples have been dispatched to international referral laboratories for diagnostic testing. During the initial stage of differential diagnosis, several highly pathogenic viral hemorrhagic fevers endemic to the region—including Ebola, Marburg virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Yellow Fever, and Rift Valley Fever—have already been ruled out.
At this stage, scientific research is focused on both rare bacterial agents (such as leptospirosis) and environmental chemical or toxic contamination as potential etiological factors. Additionally, experts are actively investigating whether the outbreak is caused by a mutated version of a known pathogen or an entirely new infectious agent.
The current crisis is further exacerbated by the limited material and technical resources of the country’s healthcare system, as well as the rising dynamics of Mpox and cholera cases, which are exerting critical pressure on the medical sector.
International partners, under the auspices of the WHO, continue to provide technical and logistical support to Burundi to optimize epidemiological surveillance systems and laboratory capacities. Simultaneously, active risk communication is being conducted among the population regarding the importance of preventive hygiene measures and early diagnosis.
