Burundi Declares Malaria Epidemic
March 16, 2017
BUJUMBURA. – The Burundian government has declared malaria an epidemic as the number of deaths from the disease passed 700 in the first three months of the year. “On the basis of conclusions made by a team of experts of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and updates made by the national epidemiological surveillance system, the ministry confirms that Burundi is these days facing a malaria epidemic,” Burundian Public Health and Aids Control Minister Dr Josiane Nijimbere said on Monday at a Press briefing.
According to her, at least 700 people died as a result of malaria since January this year until March 10.
“This means that an average of ten persons are killed by malaria every day in Burundi,” Dr Nijimbere said.
She added that statistics show that out of some 10 million people living in Burundi, over 8.1 million of them had malaria in 2016.
“Since the beginning of this year (2017), health structures countrywide recorded over 1.8 million malaria cases, that is, a 13 percent increase of malaria cases comparing to the same period in 2016,” Nijimbere said.
She added that the most affected areas include Burundi’s northern provinces including Kirundo, Muyinga, Karusi and the eastern province of Cankuzo. The last time that the east African nation declared malaria an epidemic was in 2002.
– Xinhua.
BUJUMBURA. – The Burundian government has declared malaria an epidemic as the number of deaths from the disease passed 700 in the first three months of the year. “On the basis of conclusions made by a team of experts of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and updates made by the national epidemiological surveillance system, the ministry confirms that Burundi is these days facing a malaria epidemic,” Burundian Public Health and Aids Control Minister Dr Josiane Nijimbere said on Monday at a Press briefing.
According to her, at least 700 people died as a result of malaria since January this year until March 10.
“This means that an average of ten persons are killed by malaria every day in Burundi,” Dr Nijimbere said.
She added that statistics show that out of some 10 million people living in Burundi, over 8.1 million of them had malaria in 2016.
“Since the beginning of this year (2017), health structures countrywide recorded over 1.8 million malaria cases, that is, a 13 percent increase of malaria cases comparing to the same period in 2016,” Nijimbere said.
She added that the most affected areas include Burundi’s northern provinces including Kirundo, Muyinga, Karusi and the eastern province of Cankuzo. The last time that the east African nation declared malaria an epidemic was in 2002.
– Xinhua.
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