Plague in Madagascar

As of press time, the World Health Organization had not recommended any travel restrictions to Madagascar, but an outbreak of bubonic plague had killed 40 people and infected 119 in that country since the beginning of September.

The first case was discovered on Aug. 31 in the village of Soamahatamana, near the center of the country. That man died on Sept. 3. Only two cases had been identified in the capital, Antananarivo, but that number was expected to rise due to the population density of the city.

Bubonic plague is spread by fleas and causes swollen, infected lymph nodes (buboes), fever and pneumonia. It is easily treated with antibiotics but can quickly become deadly if the infection reaches the lungs. Peru, in 2010, was the last nation to have an outbreak of bubonic plague.