SA at risk for bubonic plague, WHO warns
Madagascar is in the grip of a severe outbreak, and the World Health Organisation has warned countries with trade and travel ties to the island state to take precautions
SA is among nine countries identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as priority areas to be prepared for the plague as the deadly disease spreads through Madagascar. Madagascar‚ which has travel and trade ties to South Africa‚ has experienced a large outbreak of plague‚ also known as the "black death"‚ since August. The disease has claimed 124 lives in Madagascar since August 1‚ according to reports‚ and about 1,200 suspected‚ probable and confirmed cases have been recorded so far. "Plague is an infectious disease found in some small mammals and their fleas. People can contract plague if they are in bitten by infected fleas‚ and develop the bubonic form of plague. "Sometimes bubonic plague progresses to pneumonic plague‚ when the bacteria reaches the lungs‚" reads the WHO website’s recently updated entry on plague. The Department of Health has already advised travellers to Madagascar to avoid densely populated areas and to wear surgical masks while in transit. Screening mea...
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