Symptoms of lethal thriller virus that is spreading after it kills 5 individuals – full listing
The WHO has outlined symptoms of a mystery virus in Burundi that has killed five and hospitalised others, as tests for Ebola and other haemorrhagic fevers are negative
Health officials have been scrambling to diagnose the killer illness(Image: Getty Images/Image Source)
Symptoms of the mysterious new virus that has killed five people and hospitalised several more have been revealed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). But despite scientists rushing to find the cause, the details remain limited.
Health officials have been scrambling to diagnose the killer illness after tests for Ebola, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever all came back negative. A health alert was issued to close contacts of the infected by medics on March 31, 2026.
Health officials are now reportedly probing the outbreak of the illness in Burundi’s northern Mpanda district, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where every case recorded so far has been identified.
Health minister Dr Lydwine Badarahana said: “While it’s reassuring that preliminary analysis is negative for these serious infections, further investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the disease. All the necessary measures are being taken to safeguard public health and prevent potential spread of infection.”
No infections have been reported beyond Burundi to date, but there are ongoing concerns about how far the virus might travel, LBC reported. Moreover, officials in Burundi said the illness was first detected on March 31 and, so far, has been confined to people from a single household.
What are the symptoms?
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Blood in urine
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
According to the WHO, a number of the most serious cases have also shown jaundice and anaemia. Furthermore, it said a joint group of specialists from Burundi’s public health emergency operations centre and the national reference laboratory has been sent to investigate.
WHO further shared in a statement: “WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, laboratory diagnosis and infection prevention and control, while also providing logistical support to sustain key operations. The Organisation has also facilitated the shipment of samples to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo for further analysis.”
A crack team of experts from the country’s public health emergency operations centre and the national reference laboratory have been deployed to get to the bottom of the mystery illness. The WHO is also supporting the field operations with disease surveillance, field investigation, clinical care, laboratory diagnosis, and infection prevention and control, the Daily Star previously reported.
It comes as health authorities in Europe are on high alert after a man was diagnosed with a high risk strain of bird flu in Italy. The WHO confirmed this is the first time the A(H9N2) subtype has been imported into Europe, sparking fears of a potential new health crisis.
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