The Burundian Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that the country has confirmed 171 cases of Monkeypox, following the first detections of the virus last month.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that spreads to humans primarily through contact with infected animals but can also be transmitted from person to person through close physical contact.
According to the AFP, the health ministry spokesperson Polycarpe Ndayikeza provided an update, saying, “We have recorded a cumulative total of 171 confirmed cases, with 137 of them currently active.”
He also assured that, “To date, there have been no fatalities linked to mpox in Burundi.”
The country reported its first three cases in late July, with the number of confirmed infections rising to 153 by August 18.
The health ministry noted last month that “the epidemic continues to gain ground” and that steps are being taken to establish isolation units in district hospitals for mpox patients.
An official speaking to AFP suggested that the cases in Burundi might be linked to a “new variant” that has been spreading in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although mpox has been known for decades, a more recent strain, known as Clade 1b, has driven the current surge in cases.
According to the World Health Organization, Clade 1b is more deadly and transmissible, with a mortality rate of approximately 3.6%—especially among children. The organization has declared an international health emergency due to the ongoing outbreak.
The region is experiencing a significant increase in mpox cases, with outbreaks reported in the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The virus has also been detected in parts of Asia and Europe.
