The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in Burundi are racing to identify a mysterious illness that has claimed five lives in the country’s north.
The outbreak, centered in Mpanda district near the Democratic Republic of the Congo border, has sickened 28 people so far.
First reported on March 30, the cases have mainly affected members of the same household.
In a statement Thursday, WHO said patients presented severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in urine, with some showing jaundice and anemia.
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While initial tests for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases were negative, further laboratory analyses are ongoing.
WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health to “strengthen disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, and laboratory diagnosis.”
A joint team of experts has been deployed to coordinate the response and “sustain key operations” aimed at containing the outbreak
