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Published On: Tue, Dec 10th, 2013

Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara

An outbreak of bubonic plague is being reported from the city of Mandritsara in northern Madagascar, according to a BBC report today.

Testing carried out by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar on the 20 or so  bodies recovered from the town confirming they had died of plague.

In October, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned of the possibility of a plague outbreak in the prisons there.

“The chronic overcrowding and the unhygienic conditions in prisons can bring on new cases of the disease,” said Christoph Vogt, head of the ICRC delegation in Madagascar. “That’s dangerous not only for the inmates but also for the population in general.”

LISTEN: Talking plague and the situation in New Mexico with Dr. Paul Ettestad

“Rat control is essential for preventing the plague, because rodents spread the bacillus to fleas that can then infect humans,” said Mr Vogt. “So the relatives of a detainee can pick up the disease on a visit to the prison. And a released detainee returning to his community without having been treated can also spread the disease.”

According to the CDC, Plague is an infectious disease that affects rodents, certain other animals and humans. It is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. These bacteria are found in many areas of the world,including the United States.

People most commonly acquire plague when they are bitten by a flea that is infected with the plague bacteria. People can also become infected from direct contact with infected tissues or fluids while handling an animal that is sick with or that has died from plague. Finally, people can become infected from inhaling respiratory droplets after close contact with cats and humans with pneumonic plague.

Madagascar recorded 7,182 cases of plague during the last decade. Only the Congo had more plague cases from 2000-2009. The island country was the leading country in plague occurrence during the previous decade.

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Madagascar map   Image/Addicted04 via Wikimedia commons

Madagascar map Image/Addicted04 via Wikimedia commons

 

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About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

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  1. #Breaking News- Plague kills 20 in Madagascar | newsafrica.co.uk says:

    […] Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara […]

  2. Madagascar hit by ‘pneumonic and bubonic plague’ : 21 Deaths now being reported | Family Survival Protocol - Microcosm News says:

    […] Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara […]

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    […] Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara (theglobaldispatch.com) […]

  4. Biological Hazard – Madagascar, Sofia Region, Mandritsara : Bubonic Plague | Family Survival Protocol - Microcosm News says:

    […] Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara […]

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    […] Madagascar reports outbreak of bubonic plague in the town of Mandritsara (theglobaldispatch.com) […]

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