The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an investigation into an unknown disease outbreak in Burundi, deploying emergency response teams to affected communities amid growing public health concerns.
The agency disclosed that preliminary laboratory tests have ruled out major viral haemorrhagic fevers, easing initial fears of highly contagious deadly diseases but leaving the exact cause of the outbreak unresolved.
The Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at Africa CDC, Tolbert Nyenswah, made this known on Thursday during the agency’s weekly epidemiological briefing.
He said multidisciplinary teams comprising surveillance experts, laboratory scientists, and public health specialists had been dispatched to remote mountainous areas to assess the situation and determine the source of the outbreak.
“Although the clinical presentation raised initial concerns for viral haemorrhagic fevers, confirmatory tests… returned negative results for the suspected pathogens,” Mr Nyenswah stated.
Ongoing investigation
According to the Africa CDC, field teams are working closely with international partners and Burundi’s national health authorities to conduct on-site investigations and collect samples for further laboratory analysis.
Additional testing is currently underway across Africa CDC’s network of reference laboratories to ensure no emerging or rare pathogens are overlooked.
Mr Nyenswah emphasised that the agency’s rapid response reflects its commitment to early detection and containment of disease outbreaks at the community level.
The outbreak has raised concerns about surveillance gaps in hard-to-reach regions, with the Africa CDC highlighting the need for stronger cross-border collaboration and data sharing.
Nyenswah stressed that regional cooperation remains critical in managing evolving public health threats, particularly in areas with limited healthcare access.
Preparedness measures
The agency said it is reinforcing surveillance systems and supporting member states to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response capacity.
Efforts are also being intensified to improve early warning systems and laboratory coordination across the continent.
Africa CDC assured that further updates would be provided as investigations continue in collaboration with Burundi’s Ministry of Health.
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