Real Risk Black Death Plague Will Reach US, Europe and BRITAIN, Disease Expert Warns
THE deadly plague outbreak could reach every continent, a disease expert has horrifyingly warned.
By Charlotte Ikonen
Daily Star, UK
13th November 2017
The disease ravaging Madagascar has already killed 143 people and infected another 2,000.
Health officials are warning things will get even worse before they get better and have dubbed this the “worst outbreak in 50 years”.
A similar outbreak of the Black Death killed off one third of medieval Europe.
Speaking to Daily Star Online, disease outbreak expert Professor Paul Hunter said the plague could reach every continent, starting with mainland Africa.
He said: “This current outbreak is concerning given that it is different from previous cases we have seen, and has been spreading to areas that are not used to seeing it.
“There is always a risk with travel that the disease will spread globally.
“We don’t want a situation where the disease spreads so fast it gets out of control.
"We are talking about it spreading in days rather than weeks.”
Mr Hunter said the main worry was that people would keep symptoms to themselves in order to travel.
The plague death toll has risen to 143 in Madagascar. World Health Organization figures show the black death outbreak has now infected 1,947 people in the country off the east coast of Africa.
The plague, which is airborne and spread by coughing and sneezing, has been spreading through the east African nation since August.
It can kill in just 24 hours.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been forced to issue warnings for nine countries surrounding Madagascar.
It said the plague – which has reached 73% of the county – is more of a threat than previous outbreaks because it has taken the more deadly pneumonic form.
The outbreak is expected to continue until around April next year and UK authorities have warned Brits off visiting the African wildlife paradise.
Tarik Jasarevic of WHO told Daily Star Online that the possibility of future flare-ups couldn't be ruled out.
He said: “We must remain vigilant.
“Although plague is endemic to Madagascar, the current outbreak is occurring in densely populated cities, and has spread to non-endemic areas which are not used to handling plague cases.
"The proportion of pneumonic plague is much higher than in the past.
“WHO and partners have supported health authorities in Madagascar to strengthen measures at airports and ports to reduce the risk of international spread of the disease, including implementing exit screening at airports.
“It is standard practice for neighbouring countries and those with direct trade and travel links to review plague preparedness measures given the outbreak in Madagascar.
"WHO has assisted these countries to increase preparedness.
“WHO advises against any restriction on travel or trade with Madagascar based on the current information available.
"Restricting travel and trade creates social disruption, suspicion, underground routes and other impacts that restrict the ability of national and international actors to effectively respond to outbreaks.”
Professor Johnjoe McFadden, a molecular geneticist at Surrey University, added: “It’s a crisis at the moment and we don’t know how bad it’s going to get.
“It’s a terrible disease. It’s broadly caused more deaths of humans than anything else, it’s a very deadly pathogen.”
He added: “It is a disease of poverty where humans are being forced to live very close to rats and usually means poor sewage and poor living conditions.
“That’s the root cause of why it’s still a problem in the world. If we got rid of rats living close enough to mankind then we wouldn’t have the disease.”
The outbreak has been blamed on a massive increase of rats in the Indian Ocean island’s two major cities Antananarivo and Toamasina.
Locals taking part in a morbid cultural practice have also been warned they are helping to spread the disease.
Relatives of loved ones who have died from Black Death have been told to stop the tradition called Famadihana.
Those infected get ill within four days with flu-like symptoms.
The new strain can be treated with antibiotics.
By Charlotte Ikonen
Daily Star, UK
13th November 2017
The disease ravaging Madagascar has already killed 143 people and infected another 2,000.
Health officials are warning things will get even worse before they get better and have dubbed this the “worst outbreak in 50 years”.
A similar outbreak of the Black Death killed off one third of medieval Europe.
Speaking to Daily Star Online, disease outbreak expert Professor Paul Hunter said the plague could reach every continent, starting with mainland Africa.
He said: “This current outbreak is concerning given that it is different from previous cases we have seen, and has been spreading to areas that are not used to seeing it.
“There is always a risk with travel that the disease will spread globally.
“We don’t want a situation where the disease spreads so fast it gets out of control.
"We are talking about it spreading in days rather than weeks.”
Mr Hunter said the main worry was that people would keep symptoms to themselves in order to travel.
The plague death toll has risen to 143 in Madagascar. World Health Organization figures show the black death outbreak has now infected 1,947 people in the country off the east coast of Africa.
The plague, which is airborne and spread by coughing and sneezing, has been spreading through the east African nation since August.
It can kill in just 24 hours.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been forced to issue warnings for nine countries surrounding Madagascar.
It said the plague – which has reached 73% of the county – is more of a threat than previous outbreaks because it has taken the more deadly pneumonic form.
The outbreak is expected to continue until around April next year and UK authorities have warned Brits off visiting the African wildlife paradise.
Tarik Jasarevic of WHO told Daily Star Online that the possibility of future flare-ups couldn't be ruled out.
He said: “We must remain vigilant.
“Although plague is endemic to Madagascar, the current outbreak is occurring in densely populated cities, and has spread to non-endemic areas which are not used to handling plague cases.
"The proportion of pneumonic plague is much higher than in the past.
“WHO and partners have supported health authorities in Madagascar to strengthen measures at airports and ports to reduce the risk of international spread of the disease, including implementing exit screening at airports.
“It is standard practice for neighbouring countries and those with direct trade and travel links to review plague preparedness measures given the outbreak in Madagascar.
"WHO has assisted these countries to increase preparedness.
“WHO advises against any restriction on travel or trade with Madagascar based on the current information available.
"Restricting travel and trade creates social disruption, suspicion, underground routes and other impacts that restrict the ability of national and international actors to effectively respond to outbreaks.”
Professor Johnjoe McFadden, a molecular geneticist at Surrey University, added: “It’s a crisis at the moment and we don’t know how bad it’s going to get.
“It’s a terrible disease. It’s broadly caused more deaths of humans than anything else, it’s a very deadly pathogen.”
He added: “It is a disease of poverty where humans are being forced to live very close to rats and usually means poor sewage and poor living conditions.
“That’s the root cause of why it’s still a problem in the world. If we got rid of rats living close enough to mankind then we wouldn’t have the disease.”
The outbreak has been blamed on a massive increase of rats in the Indian Ocean island’s two major cities Antananarivo and Toamasina.
Locals taking part in a morbid cultural practice have also been warned they are helping to spread the disease.
Relatives of loved ones who have died from Black Death have been told to stop the tradition called Famadihana.
Those infected get ill within four days with flu-like symptoms.
The new strain can be treated with antibiotics.
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