‘Waiting for death’: Three dead as mystery virus spreads in Burundi

Dozens of people have been quarantined as authorities scramble to identify a virus that has killed three people within 24 hours of falling ill.

Burundi has been gripped with a mystery illness. Picture: Google Maps

Health authorities are urging residents in a small East African country to frequently wash their hands and avoid eating wild animals in a bid to stop the transmission of a deadly mystery illness.

Three people in the landlocked nation of Burundi have lost their lives over three days to a yet-to-be formally identified disease, which has forced dozens of people into strict quarantine.

Symptoms of the disease mimic those of the highly dangerous ebola and marburg viruses, however the Burundian Ministry of Health has ruled out both illnesses.

According to witnesses, signs of the illness include “abdominal pain, nasal bleeding which increases after death, acute headaches, high fever, vomiting and dizziness”, news site SOS Media Burundi reports.

The virus is spreading in Burundi. Picture: Google Maps

The three patients reportedly died within 24 hours symptoms emerging, with all having lived in the same vicinity.

“It’s a disease that kills quickly,” a nurse from the Migwa health centre told the news site. “It’s terrible, we are all waiting for death.”

It’s understood she was working at a health care centre that received two of the patients in their final hours.

Meanwhile an 18-year-old student from another Burundi community was also admitted to a different hospital with similar symptoms, including bloody vomiting and diarrhoea and nose bleeds.

“He died the same day and a dignified and secure burial was reserved for him,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Health experts suspected the student died after contracting the Marburg virus, due to a current outbreak unfolding in neighbouring Tanzania.

The statement from the Burundian Ministry of Health. Picture: @ParaMicroBio/Twitter

Marburg is known for its high case fatality rates and epidemic-like nature, the World Health Organisation (WHO) states on its website.

Also known as a “filovirus” or the cousin of ebola, it causes high fevers which can rapidly progress into severe haemorrhages that can become fatal.

As of March 22, eight cases of marburg were detected in Tanzania, with five of those patients dying as a result.

A healthcare worker was among one of the victims who lost their life after contracting the virus.

A team was “urgently dispatched” to assess the 18-year-old Burundi man’s cause of death as it was believed he may have had marburg or ebola.

However, results of the analysis were negative for both viruses.

“The Ministry of Human Health and the Fight Against AIDS is therefore surprised that there is no ebola or marburg outbreak in the Muyinga province,” the Ministry of Health said.

“We are continuing investigations to identify the cause of death.”

Three people have died after contracting an unknown virus. Picture: iStock

The news of the unknown disease has amassed fear within the community given there’s little locals can do to protect themselves from the virus aside from basic hygiene measures.

“So far, no real prevention strategy against this disease has been communicated,” a government cabinet member told SOS Media Burundi.

“Apart from washing your hands and avoiding greeting each other, there are no strict measures which can promote contamination.”

The Ministry of Health has since advised Burundians to wash their hands with clean water and soap and to avoid unprotected contact with bodily fluids, consuming wild animals and touching a corpse with an unknown cause of death, as measures to protect themselves.

“[We] request all residents and citizens to stay safe but be vigilant in notifying the nearest public health officials whenever they see someone with symptoms similar to what we have mentioned,” the Ministry said.