Bujumbura : unusual flu worries the population

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, January 19, 2026 — For nearly a month, an illness with unusual symptoms has been spreading in several neighborhoods of Bujumbura, causing concern and raising questions among residents. Fever, cough, runny nose, headaches, and body aches are frequently reported, reminding some of the symptoms observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to testimonies gathered by SOS Médias Burundi, the illness is affecting all segments of the population, regardless of age. In several households, entire families are bedridden, reinforcing the perception of a highly contagious disease.

The repercussions are already visible in daily life. Some schools are reporting high absenteeism, while public and private services are operating at a reduced capacity. Thinking they have malaria, many people seek medical attention at health facilities, but laboratory tests often come back negative.

“When the doctor confirmed that all the tests were normal, he prescribed me medication similar to that used for COVID-19,” said a father we met at a pharmacy in the capital.

Faced with this situation, self-medication is on the rise, a practice considered worrying by many citizens. Health authorities, for their part, acknowledge a recent increase in cases of flu and coughs in several regions of the country.

During an interview on Burundi’s national radio and television, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, Polycarpe Ndayikeza, urged the public to consult licensed health facilities and warned against self-medication and the use of prayer rooms.

At this stage, no official confirmation has established a link with COVID-19. The Ministry, however, assures that it is closely monitoring the situation and urges caution.