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Epidemic in Ambalarano-Befotaka: about ten deaths
By The News on 05/12/2016
General panic in Ambalarano. In the last few months, a dozen people have succumbed to an epidemic that remains unrecognized until now. The suspicion of plague is not to be dismissed.
On the alert. The Ministry of Health has dispatched a multidisciplinary medical team to this village in Bafotaka district, Atsimo-Andrefana region. Having left the capital last weekend, the latter comes to reinforce the staff of the Health on the spot to circumscribe the epidemic and to treat the sick. "They are provided with medicines and other necessary inputs which will make it possible to take charge of all the possible epidemic cases which may be the cause of this situation", informed yesterday the director of the Health Watch and Epidemiological Surveillance (DVSSE), Dr. Maherison Ratsitorahana, on the phone.
Although the supervisory ministry has avoided further information on this subject at this time, due to a lack of reliable statistics, it has been learned from consistent sources that the situation has worsened in recent weeks. Yesterday, during a telephone conversation, Maroriky, the MP for Befotaka, confirmed that he had received reports that about 10 deaths were reported in Ambalarano. Consulted by us, a gendarmerie officer in this district, said he had already been informed of this information on Wednesday.
The suspicion of plague is not to be ruled out
According to a source at Migondy Atsimo, the epidemic would have started already two months ago where cases of death were noted. The patients did not consult the Basic Health Centers (CSB) since they considered the phenomenon as a result of an act of witchcraft. Some of the patients who visited CSB in Migondy Atsimo last week had symptoms similar to those of plague. "For now, we can not confirm or deny this assumption," according to the DVSSE. The latter added that "only bacteriological analyzes will confirm or not such a case".
Meanwhile, in order to be able to control the epidemic in time, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and medicines for treatment have already been sent to the site, in case of plague. For years, coastal areas have ceased to be included in the list of plague areas on the Big Island. "Generally, plague-infected homes are found only in the Central Highlands," said the head of the plague unit at the Pasteur Institute in Madagascar, Dr. Minoarisoa Rajerison.
Fahranarison
Epidemic in Ambalarano-Befotaka: about ten deaths
By The News on 05/12/2016
General panic in Ambalarano. In the last few months, a dozen people have succumbed to an epidemic that remains unrecognized until now. The suspicion of plague is not to be dismissed.
On the alert. The Ministry of Health has dispatched a multidisciplinary medical team to this village in Bafotaka district, Atsimo-Andrefana region. Having left the capital last weekend, the latter comes to reinforce the staff of the Health on the spot to circumscribe the epidemic and to treat the sick. "They are provided with medicines and other necessary inputs which will make it possible to take charge of all the possible epidemic cases which may be the cause of this situation", informed yesterday the director of the Health Watch and Epidemiological Surveillance (DVSSE), Dr. Maherison Ratsitorahana, on the phone.
Although the supervisory ministry has avoided further information on this subject at this time, due to a lack of reliable statistics, it has been learned from consistent sources that the situation has worsened in recent weeks. Yesterday, during a telephone conversation, Maroriky, the MP for Befotaka, confirmed that he had received reports that about 10 deaths were reported in Ambalarano. Consulted by us, a gendarmerie officer in this district, said he had already been informed of this information on Wednesday.
The suspicion of plague is not to be ruled out
According to a source at Migondy Atsimo, the epidemic would have started already two months ago where cases of death were noted. The patients did not consult the Basic Health Centers (CSB) since they considered the phenomenon as a result of an act of witchcraft. Some of the patients who visited CSB in Migondy Atsimo last week had symptoms similar to those of plague. "For now, we can not confirm or deny this assumption," according to the DVSSE. The latter added that "only bacteriological analyzes will confirm or not such a case".
Meanwhile, in order to be able to control the epidemic in time, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and medicines for treatment have already been sent to the site, in case of plague. For years, coastal areas have ceased to be included in the list of plague areas on the Big Island. "Generally, plague-infected homes are found only in the Central Highlands," said the head of the plague unit at the Pasteur Institute in Madagascar, Dr. Minoarisoa Rajerison.
Fahranarison
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