Burundi has ordered the expulsion of the World Health Organization’s expert team backing the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, just days before a presidential election.
“Late yesterday afternoon I was made aware through a note verbale about this decision of the government of Burundi which has asked our WHO representative and three other persons, one of whom is a consultant … to leave the country immediately,” WHO Africa Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti told journalists on Thursday.
“They are expelled and the health minister has totally excluded WHO, accusing it of unacceptable interference in its management of the coronavirus,” a Burundian official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, tasked by the Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations and abuses in the country since 2015, said in a statement that it “deeply regretted” the decision.The announcement comes just days before Burundians go to the polls on May 20 to choose a new president, parliamentarians and local officials.But it has taken few precautions against the disease and testing is low, fuelling concern that the true extent of the outbreak is not known.
One resident of the capital recounted that her neighbour, who had a fever and respiratory problems, was refused a test.Meanwhile, the National Institute of Public Health, the only place carrying out tests, has had six of its staff responsible for taking samples, fall sick with the virus.
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