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WHO confirms another plague outbreak in Madagascar
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WHO officials announced another outbreak of plague in Madagascar.
The country’s ministry of health has reported 15 cases of plague, including 10 deaths — all of which are of the more deadly pneumonic form. The first case was identified on Aug. 17 in the Moramanga district. There have been no new cases identified since Aug. 27 in the affected or neighboring districts, according to a press release.
WHO officials do not recommend any travel or trade restrictions at this time. With the support of WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar and other partners, Madagascar’s government is investigating active cases, searching for contacts, delivering treatment, enhancing surveillance, implementing infection and control protocols and employing vector control activities.
The bacterium Yersinia pestis, which primarily affects wild rodents and is spread by fleas, causes plague. When infected fleas bite humans, the bubonic form of plague usually develops. Swelling of the lymph nodes occurs, which can be treated with antibiotics.
According to the CDC, human plague infections continue to occur in the Western United States, but cases are more common in Africa and Asia.
The pneumonic form of plague develops when bacteria reaches the lungs, which can then be spread by coughing and lead to death 24 hours after infection.
An outbreak of plague previously occurred in Madagascar in 2014 and earlier this year. More than 335 cases and 79 deaths were reported when the outbreak peaked in November 2014, according to the release.