Burundi: Malaria Outbreak - May 2019
Burundi is currently experiencing a high malaria burden, reaching epidemic proportions since early May 2019. Initial assessments indicate that the major drivers of the current increased malaria transmission include low use of preventive measures (coverage of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets stands at less than 50% after the last universal distribution campaigns in 2017); low population immunity in the wake of increased mobility, especially for the people living in the mountains where malaria transmission is usually very low; climatic changes and vector ecological and behavioural changes (increased vector density and feeding habits – biting both indoors and outdoors as well as higher vector aggressiveness)...The national malaria outbreak response plan, which is currently being validated, has highlighted a lack of human, logistical and financial resources for effective response. All stakeholders, including the national authorities and partners are called upon to provide the requisite resources to mount a robust response to this event before it escalates. (WHO, 9 Jun 2019)
The number of health districts that have passed the epidemic threshold has continued to increase in May. Nine health districts are above the alert threshold and thirty-three are above the epidemic threshold. The number of cases recorded since the start of the year now exceeds three million, a fifty per cent increase compared to the same period in 2018. (OCHA, 21 Jun 2019)
In week 29 (week ending 21 July 2019), 152 243 cases including 65 deaths have been reported from 39/46 districts. There is a 164% increase in the number of cases reported in week 29 of 2019 compared to week 29 of 2018 and a 13.5% decrease in the number of cases reported in week 29 compared to week 28 of 2019. Eight more cases have been reported in week 29 compared to week 28 of 2019. From week 1 (week ending 5 January 2019) to week 29 of 2019, a cumulative total of 5 738 661 cases and 1 801 deaths (CFR 0.03%) have been reported. (WHO, 28 Jul 2019)
Since week 48 of 2018 (week ending 2 December 2018), there has been a progressive increase in the number of malaria cases reported across the 46 districts of Burundi, with the epidemic threshold surpassed in week 18 (week ending 5 May 2019). In week 34 (week ending 25 August 2019), 109 386 cases including 66 deaths have been reported. There is a 125% increase in the number of cases reported in week 34 of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. (WHO, 08 Sep 2019)
The outbreak of malaria in Burundi is ongoing, with a persistent high incidence of cases across the country. [...] From 1 January to 20 October 2019, a cumulative total of 7 233 138 malaria cases with 2 691 deaths (case fatality ratio 0.03%) have been reported across the country. A total of 23 (49%) out of the 47 health districts of Burundi have surpassed the epidemic threshold, while ten (21.4%) have reached the alert threshold. (WHO, 27 Oct 2019)
In week 51 (week ending 22 December 2019), 152 960 cases including 63 deaths have been reported. There is a 90% increase in the number of cases reported in week 51 of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. (WHO, 05 Jan 2020)
After the increase in the number of malaria episodes in 2019, a progressive reduction of cases has been observed since the beginning of the year. According to the MoH surveillance data, the cumulative number of malaria cases reported during the first trimester stands at 1,442,585 (including 837 deaths) as opposed to 2.5 million within the same period in 2019. This year, an average of 131,000 cases were reported weekly in January against 109,000 in February. (UNICEF, 28 Apr 2020)