The current outbreak of plague in Madagascar is the country’s worst in “50 years” and is expected to spike, according to various experts.=
The airborne pneumonic plague, which is spread via coughing, sneezing or spitting and can be lethal within 24 hours if untreated, has claimed at least 127 recorded deaths from at least 1,801 cases so far.
Dr Charl van Loggerenberg, regional medical director of International SOS, warned that this outbreak is unusual because it has favoured more built up area.
He said: “This particular one we are interested for two specific reasons.
“One, the cases have predominantly been around the capital, urban areas and the wetter eastern parts, which is not normal. Normally it has been in the dry, rural parts of Madagascar.
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“And, obviously the caseloads. So, it has effected a significantly greater number of people. We are looking north of 1,300 cases with a 10 per cent fatality rate.”
Aid workers on the island predicted this weekend’s annual celebrations to honour the dead will create a further spike in cases of the deadly disease in the coming days as people will have close contact with one another.
Health officials have also warned an ancient ritual, called Famadihana, where relatives dig up the corpses of their loved ones, may be fuelling the spread.
Professor Jimmy Whitworth, an international public health scientist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, revealed the rapid spread could continue as the airborne disease has reached heavily populated cities.
He told MailOnline: “Madagascar is the most plague endemic country in the world and has outbreaks every year at about this time, this outbreak though is the worst for 50 years or more.”
To limit the danger of Famadihana, rules enforced at the beginning of the outbreak dictate plague victims cannot be buried in a tomb that can be reopened.
Despite the official warning, many have dismissed the advice.