Could the plague epidemic that has raged in Madagascar since August 2017 be spreading to the Seychelles? While the infectious disease has already claimed more than 50 lives in Madagascar, two cases of pulmonary plague may have been detected in Seychelles, an archipelago that lies less than 2,000 kilometers in the Indian Ocean. Among the two patients, a Seychellois returned to his country on October 6, 2017 in a plane from Madagascar, according to local health authorities.
“For now, it has not yet been confirmed that the two sick people are due to pulmonary plague, samples must be sent this weekend to the Pasteur Institute in Paris,” said doctor Jude Gedeon , Public Health Commissioner. The results should be known next week.
320 people under medical supervision
To limit the risks, 320 people (having been in contact with the two patients) were placed under surveillance and 12 people (showing symptoms which could be those of pulmonary plague) were admitted to hospital for treatment. antibiotic treatment – of these, at least one child. In addition, local authorities have also decided that anyone who has arrived for less than seven days from Madagascar should be placed in an isolation center.
From this Friday, October 13, 2017 and until Tuesday, October 17, 2017, primary and secondary schools in the archipelago will be closed: “we took this decision as a precautionary measure to reassure parents,” said Marida Delcy, adviser to the Ministry of National Education.
As a reminder, the plague is caused by a bacterium generally carried by the fleas of rats. It is said to be “bubonic” when it touches the lymph nodes, then it becomes “pulmonary” when it reaches the respiratory system. If left untreated, death occurs quickly – luckily, when given in time, antibiotic treatment is effective.
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