Monkeypox Clade Ib virus introduction into Burundi: first findings, July to mid-August 2024

Abstract

We describe cases with monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade Ib in Burundi from their first detection in July until 20 August 2024. Testing 442 people with vesicular lesions confirmed 170 cases (98 male; 72 female), 82 (48%) being < 15 years old. Differential diagnosis of the first 30 individuals testing MPXV negative revealed chickenpox in 20. Cases occurred in 26 of 49 Burundi health districts, but mostly in Bujumbura Nord (88/170; 67%). Case-derived MPXV genetic sequences from Burundi and South-Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), clustered together in phylogenetic analysis.