During the World Health Organization's (WHO) board session on Monday, the agency's Director-General Margaret Chan addressed the growing issue of the bubonic plague outbreak currently affecting Madagascar, Vice News reported.
The plague, also known as the Black Death, swept across Europe during the 14th century and killed off about half of the continent's population.
In November of last year, WHO reported that the plague has infected 119 people and caused the death of 50 others. However, based on recent updates, the number of those who have contracted the deadly disease increased to more than 200.
Chan noted in her speech that the typhoons that hit Madagascar earlier this month aided the spread of the disease.
"Last week, floods from a tropical storm in the Indian Ocean and a cyclone hit Madagascar, displacing tens of thousands of people and untold numbers of rats, raising the risk of more rodent-borne epidemics," she said in a statement.
In addition, an analysis conducted by the agency revealed that the rodents' fleas, which could also transmit the disease to humans, have developed an immunity against insecticides designed to eradicate them.
Another concerning facet of the outbreak is the emergence of the plague's pneumonic form. This type of disease does not require parasitic carriers such as rats or fleas and can directly spread between people. The pneumonic plague is known to kill a person 24 hours after being exposed to the disease.
Despite the worsening condition of the outbreak, Chan noted that WHO is capable of managing and containing it.
"This is the kind of geographically focused and readily manageable outbreak that WHO was designed to contain," she said.
Dr. Stephen Morse, a Columbia University professor and expert on epidemics, said the key to combating the spread of the bubonic plague is early detection and prevention. Once a person has been exposed to the disease, he or she must be treated as soon as possible.
"Usually the problem is diagnosing it in time," he told Vice News. "Once a person becomes infected, you really need to recognize it and treat it quickly."
