Healthcare Magazine January 2015 | Page 9

the black death
The country of Madagascar is known for its tranquil beaches , exotic wildlife and rich culture . But something else also inhabits the island that is now making headlines : The Black Death .
Perhaps best known as the Bubonic Plague that is generally associated with the Middle Ages when rats , fleas and poor hygiene resulted in the deaths of approximately 200 million people , the disease remains an enduring threat in third-world nations .
Madagascar has been one of the world ’ s last remaining hotspots for the plague but the illness has been mostly isolated in rural villages and self-contained ... until now .
The World Health Organization recently announced an “ outbreak of the plague ” in Madagascar , with two people in the country ’ s capital being infected and one having died from the disease .
Cases have been reported in 16 districts of the seven regions , according to WHO , and the health ministry said there had been 138 suspected cases since the beginning of the year and warned that the death toll was likely to rise in the coming months .
Now that the disease has made it
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