The UN health agency, the World Health Organisation has announced that it is intensifying efforts at containing the spread of plague in Madagascar.
The WHO said on Sunday that the plague has so far killed 21 people with Malagasy authorities confirming that a basketball coach visiting the island from the Seychelles for a sports event died from the disease on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Health officials have recorded over 104 suspected cases so far with the outbreak of the disease which usually gets seen between March and October spreading fast.
The WHO says it is deploying further staff and supplies amid concerns the disease could spread further because cases have already been reported in several cities.
Health officials said the recent outbreak has created panic among people in country’s east coastal community.
The African Island nation has the world’s highest incidence of the bacterial infection.
Madagascar is exceptionally susceptible to the plague due to persistent poverty, poor sanitation and a lack of health care, conditions that aid the spread of the plague.
Plague can be diagnosed and easily treated with common antibiotics. Victims can develop painful lymph-node swelling.
Victims who don’t get early treatment from life-saving antibiotics when infected will die.
Source: Africafeeds.com
