Three die from mystery nosebleed-causing disease in Burundi
Three die of a mysterious nosebleed disease in Burundi
- The disease swept through the landlocked country, killing 3 people in 3 days
- Health chiefs have reportedly ruled out mysterious illnesses like Ebola or Marburg
- All cases have been recorded in Migwa, Baziro region, northern Burundi
A mysterious disease that can cause nosebleeds has killed three people in Burundi.
All the deaths occurred in the northeastern part of the African country, close to the border with Tanzania and Rwanda.
And they reportedly died within 24 hours of their symptoms appearing.
Health chiefs have now been sent to Kirundo and Muyinga provinces to investigate the nature of the disease.
Details about what the actual disease is are scarce.
In Burundi, three people have died from a mysterious disease that causes nosebleeds. All cases have been recorded in northeastern Burundi in Gitobe Municipality, Kirundo Province and Butihinda Municipality, Muyinga Province.
Although the symptoms of the mysterious disease resemble those of the potentially deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses, the Burundian health ministry has ruled out both diseases. The current Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea is believed to be the fourth largest on record. Seven people have died there since mid-February, and officials have counted 29 confirmed and probable cases, up from 16 last week. In Tanzania – which borders Burundi – there were eight cases as of March 22, five of whom have died
Local news website SOS Media Burundi reported that symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain, nosebleeds, headache, fever, vomiting and dizziness.
These symptoms mimic those of the potentially deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses.
Last week, an 18-year-old student was hospitalized with symptoms including bloody vomiting and diarrhea and nosebleeds, the ministry said.
“He died the same day and a dignified and safe burial was reserved for him,” they said.
Health experts suspected the student died after contracting the Marburg virus, due to a current outbreak in neighboring Tanzania.
According to SOS Media Burundi, a team was sent out, but the results of the analysis were negative for both Ebola and Marburg.
Marburg virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever that can have a mortality rate of up to 88 percent, according to the World Health Organization.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea.
There are currently no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat it.
Another outbreak of Marburg is currently underway in Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Africa.
Seven people have died there since mid-February, and officials have counted 29 confirmed and probable cases, up from 16 last week.
In Tanzania, there were eight cases as of March 22, five of whom have been pronounced dead.
The Ministry of Health has since advised Burundians to wash their hands with clean water and soap and avoid unprotected contact with bodily fluids.
It has also advised against consuming wild animals and handling corpses with unknown causes of death.
Marburg has a mortality rate of up to 88 percent. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved to treat the virus
The ministry said it “asks the population to remain calm and report anyone who comes into contact with the said symptoms to the nearest health centre.”
British health chiefs continue to monitor cases of cholera in Burundi even after an outbreak.
British health authorities have also classified Burundi as a country at risk of transmitting the Zika virus.
In July last year, a mysterious nosebleed disease broke out in Tanzania, killing three people.
However, the Tanzanian government later identified the disease as leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s disease.
Weil’s disease is a rare infection spread through the urine of animals, including rats, mice, cows, pigs and dogs.