This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 9, 2019, Burundi's government disputed a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the scale of malaria in the country.
According to WHO, malaria cases have reached epidemic proportions, with over five million cases reported since the start of the year and more than 1,800 deaths attributed to the disease.
However, Burundi's Health Minister Thaddée Ndikumana countered these figures, stating that the country had recorded 4.3 million cases of malaria and 1,400 deaths this year.
He further claimed that these numbers were lower compared to 2017, when 4.9 million cases and 4,300 deaths were reported.
Malaria, spread through the bite of female mosquitoes, is a significant public health concern worldwide, claiming almost half a million lives annually.
