Mysterious illness killed five people in Burundi, says WHO
UN World Health Organisation and health authorities in Burundi are racing to identify a mysterious illness that has claimed five lives in the country’s north.
The outbreak, centred in the Mpanda district near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has so far sickened 28 people.
The cases, first reported on March 30, have primarily affected members of the same household.
WHO, in a statement on Thursday, said the patients had presented severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and blood in their urine, with some cases exhibiting jaundice and anaemia.
While initial tests for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases returned negative results, further laboratory analyses are ongoing.
The WHO is currently supporting the health ministry to “strengthen disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, and laboratory diagnosis”.
A joint team of experts has been deployed to the field to coordinate the response and “sustain key operations” aimed at containing the spread.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
UN advocates stronger cooperation framework with Nigeria to drive growth
Mr Fall stressed the need to strengthen the UN-Nigeria cooperation framework to bolster national growth.
Agriculture
Nigeria, Brazil deepen partnership on agriculture, livestock development
Mr Shettima said both countries will roll out bilateral partnerships in agriculture and livestock under the initiative.
Heading 1
Troops detain terrorists’ logistics suppliers, recover weapons in southern Kaduna
Mr Oteh disclosed that the suspects were intercepted and subsequently arrested by troops while travelling from Plateau to Niger State.
Heading 2
Primaries Fallout: APC chairman advises aggrieved aspirants to accept defeat
Mr Bello urged those who couldn’t make it in the just-concluded APC primaries to emulate the speaker by accepting the outcome.
NationWide
NTAC deploys 28 TAC volunteers to Uganda to bridge educational gaps
Mr Yakub expressed satisfaction with the quality of Nigerian professionals selected for deployment to Uganda.
World
South African police arrest four over attempted murder
The suspects are expected to appear before the Virginia Magistrate’s Court soon, the police said.
