Bubonic Plague Strikes Madagascar: 40 People Reported Dead
A bubonic plague outbreak has stuck Madagascar, causing at least 40 deaths in the last three months. According to the World Health Organization, the disease has spread to seven regions and 16 districts — rendering more than 100 people ill. The WHO blames the devastating outbreak on dense populations and the lack of a sound healthcare system.
As reported by the WHO, the plague is a bacterial disease, which is carried by rodents and spread by infected fleas. Once infected, humans generally develop swollen lymph nodes. The term bubonic refers to the swollen nodes, which are called buboes.
While confined to the lymph nodes, the disease is called bubonic plague. However, if untreated, the disease usually spreads to the lungs. Once it reaches the lungs, the plague becomes pneumonic.
Although bubonic plague is treatable with antibiotics, the prognosis for pneumonic plague is far more grim. According to the World Health Organization, patients diagnosed with pneumonic plague often perish within days.
This is also the stage where patients become highly contagious. While bubonic plague is most often spread by fleas, pneumonic plague is spread “from person to person through infected droplets spread by coughing.”
As reported by Discovery News, Madagascar officials have attempted to halt spread of the bubonic plague with insecticides. Unfortunately, the fleas have displayed a “high level of resistance to insecticides.”
In response the outbreak, the government of Madagascar formed a national task force. In cooperation with the Pasteur institute, the Red Cross, and the African Development Bank, Madagascar officials have implemented a plan to control and prevent the devastating disease.
The WHO reports that essential materials, including antibiotics, insecticides, and personal protective equipment, were “made available” in the affected districts and regions.
Despite aggressive measures to prevent and treat bubonic plague, the International Committee of the Red Cross estimates an average of 500 residents of Madagascar are infected with the plague each year.
Between 1989 and 2003, the World Health Organization recorded a total of 38,310 bubonic plague infections worldwide. More than 2800 of those infections resulted in death. A majority of the cases and deaths occurred in Africa. Unfortunately, the WHO has noted “an increased incidence of human plague,” which began in the early 1990s.
Although the number of reported cases has increased, the numbers may reflect increased awareness and advances in reporting methods.
The WHO has not issued any travel restrictions associated with the bubonic plague outbreak. However, they are closely monitoring epidemic risk indicators.
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