Below are extracts from a BBC news item and a comment frm me.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3xzdq909o
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... Mr Irambona has mpox. He is one of the more than 170 confirmed cases recorded since last month in Burundi. One of the poorest countries in the world, it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of several recent mpox outbreaks, which have led to at least 450 deaths and 14,000 suspected cases so far this year...
it has been declared a global health emergency because of fears it could spread quickly to previously unaffected countries and regions...
A lot of effort is made to isolate those infected from the rest of the hospital’s population. There is red tape everywhere, and visitors, who are required to wear protective equipment, are physically distanced from those infected...
Public awareness about mpox is limited...
“Many people do not understand the gravity of this issue. Even where there have been cases, people still just mingle,” Dr Nkengurutse says.
The BBC spoke to several people in Bujumbura and the majority did not know what mpox was. And those that did were not aware that it was spreading in their country.
“I have heard about this disease, but I have never seen someone who suffers from it. I have only seen it on social media,” one person said.
“I know it affects babies and young people. I am scared of it, but that does not mean I will just stay at home. I have to work. My family has to eat,” said another.
Health workers know that persuading people to take more care may be hard among a sceptical population that is facing a host of economic challenges.
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COMMENT (NPW): The above medical advice implies that people should avoid 'mingling' (reminiscent of public health advice on COVID-19), but this does not correspond to WHO advice, which states the following to protect oneself:
If someone you know is diagnosed with or has suspected mpox, avoid close contact with them, including sexual contact
Know the symptoms and check yourself regularly
If you have symptoms, seek health advice and self-isolate while you wait to get tested
Get vaccinated if it is available to you
Clean and disinfect environments that could have been contaminated with the virus from someone who is infectious
Stay informed about mpox in your area
Have open, non-judgmental conversations with people you come into close contact with (especially sexual contact) about any symptoms you or they may have
https://www.who.int/news-room/public-advice/protecting-yourself-from-mon...
I couldn't find public health guidance on the Burundi MoH website or Twitter, nor on the Burundi Times news website.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
