Plague Outbreak Madagascar 08

Overview

WHO continues to support the Ministry of Public Health and other national authorities in Madagascar to monitor and respond to the outbreak of plague. There has been a decline in the incidence of pneumonic plague and overall hospitalizations of patients due to plague infection since mid-October 2017 across the country. From 1 August to 3 November 2017, a total of 1 947 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of plague, including 143 deaths (case fatality rate 7%), have been reported from 51 of 114 districts in the country. Of these, 1 437 (74%) were clinically classified as pulmonary plague, 295 (15%) were bubonic plague, one was septicaemic, and 211 were not yet classified (further classification of cases is in process). Since the beginning of the outbreak, 71 healthcare workers (with no deaths) have been affected.