Burundi: Cholera Outbreak - Jan 2023

An outbreak of cholera was declared in Burundi on 1 January 2023, following the onset of cases in December 2022. As of early January 2023, 42 suspected cases with no deaths had been reported across four districts: Bujumbura North, Cibitoke, Isale, and Bujumbura Centre. By 1 February 2023, the outbreak had expanded to 118 suspected cases and one death (CFR 0.8%), including more than 66 laboratory-confirmed cases. The most affected age group was 21--30 years, while children under five represented 20.3% of cases. (WHO, 13 Jan 2023) (WHO, 11 March 2023)

Transmission increased through March and April 2023, with a cumulative 232 cases and one death reported by 4 April across seven health districts. By late April, cases had risen to 327 with three deaths (CFR 0.9%), and by 28 May 2023, a total of 450 cases and seven deaths (CFR 1.6%) had been reported across multiple districts, including Isare, Bujumbura North, and Cibitoke. During this period, fluctuations in weekly case counts were observed alongside continued geographic spread. (WHO, 5 Apr 2023) (WHO, 27 Apr 2023) (WHO, 21 May 2023) (WHO, 29 May 2023)

From mid-2023, the outbreak continued with intermittent increases in transmission. By August 2023, cumulative cases had reached 603 with nine deaths (CFR 1.5%), including a sharp weekly increase in late August. By September and November 2023, cumulative cases had exceeded 1,300 while deaths had remained at nine, resulting in a declining case fatality rate of approximately 0.7--0.9%. (WHO, 16 Jul 2023) (WHO, 7 Aug 2023) (WHO, 27 Aug 2023) (WHO, 24 Sep 2023) (WHO, 19 Nov 2023)

In 2024, the outbreak showed a declining trend in transmission and mortality. By March 2024, cumulative cases had reached approximately 1,468 with nine deaths, and no deaths had been reported since mid-2023. By April 2024, a total of 1,481 cases had been recorded, and by 23 June 2024, cumulative cases had increased to 1,954 with 11 deaths (CFR 0.6%), with only a small number of active cases reported weekly across affected districts. (WHO, 12 Feb 2024) (WHO, 11 Mar 2024) (WHO, 28 Apr 2024) (WHO, 23 Jun 2024)

In 2025, the outbreak persisted with renewed increases in transmission. By March 2025, a cumulative total of 2,378 cases and 12 deaths (CFR 0.5%) had been reported across 14 affected districts. The situation deteriorated further in late 2025, with more than 600 additional cases recorded between late September and November and daily case counts frequently exceeding 50. By 7 December 2025, a total of 2,968 cases had been reported, indicating a significant resurgence following earlier declines. (WHO, 27 Mar 2025) (IFRC, 31 Dec 2025)