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Friday 28 November 2014

Outbreak of Bubonic plague in Madagascar spreads to the island's capital

Bubonic plague destroying soft tissues
I posted an account of the Bubonic plague on the Island country of Madagascar see here>. The outbreak still ravages households as it spreads to the capital of Antananarivo. The World Health Organisation last week, said 40 people had died as a result of the plague, which was first identified in August.
     Note that spread to humans is by fleas but the plague mostly affects rats. The United Nations health agency has said that the situation in the country is more worrisome because of a high level of resistance to insecticides targeting Fleas. According to The international Committee of The Red Cross, the country has recorded on average 500 cases of plague every year since 2009.
Bubonic plague, otherwise known as The Black Death killed around 100million people during the 14th century.

It is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis, which uses the flea as a host and is usually transmitted to humans via rats.

Clinical manifestations include gangrene and the appearance of large swellings on the groin, armpits or neck, known as 'buboes'.

Bubonic plague has almost completely vanished from developed world, with over 90 percent of all cases now found in Africa.

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