Madagascar - Plague outbreak 2022 - 2023

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October 18, 2022

Plague: 134 cases and 32 deaths from August 2021 to October 2022


The plague season runs from August to April.

About 20 districts are currently being closely monitored by the Ministry of Public Health.

" Plague cases have recently been notified and the situation is linked to the increase in fire points observed in Madagascar recently ". These are the words of an official at the Ministry of Public Health to report on the situation of the plague in Madagascar. According to our source " the increase in the number of cases of this disease is exponential to the number of fires observed ". The statistics revealed by the Ministry of Public Health show 134 notified cases and 32 deaths between August 2021 and October 2022. This constitutes a considerable increase compared to the situation observed during the season. passed if we stick to the explanations of the Ministry of Public Health. For the responsible the link between the proliferation of the plague currently observed and the destruction of forests no longer needs to be demonstrated . When forests burn, rats move towards villages, towns and cities. And from that moment, the risk of contamination is high , ”explains the agent of the Ministry of Public Health.

Clever

Asked about the districts affected by the situation, our source replied " the Ministry of Public Health is currently monitoring nearly fifteen districts spread from the North to the South of the country ". According to the official, " two triangles" are currently under the ministry's radar.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the interview, the official at the Ministry of Public Health invites the Malagasy " to be smarter than the rats and to stop the bush fires and the forest fires". Indeed, the loss of species that contribute to balancing the ecosystem leads to the proliferation of the disease. It should be remembered that the plague is transmitted from animals to humans by the bite of a flea infected with the disease. Fighting rats would be one of the first ways to fight this disease. Awareness campaigns on the eradication of these animals have already been initiated in all regions of the country. Public health officials in the districts concerned have plague screening and diagnostic devices. Each case observed obliges them to make a mandatory declaration on the date and at the time of the finding. This would have led to the notification of “ two or three cases” recently.

Jose Belalahy

https://midi-madagasikara.mg/2022/10/18/peste-134-cas-et-32-deces-daout-2021-a-octobre-2022/

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The plague reappears after the forest fires

Tuesday, October 18 | Mandimbisoa R.

The plague returns. Bush and forest fires recorded in the past three weeks have resulted in an upsurge in plague cases, the public health ministry said. Between 3 to 5 new cases per week were identified between September and early October.

In total, 20 districts are frequently affected by the plague in Madagascar. These are mainly the districts located in the highlands where the environment is favorable to the survival of rats carrying the disease. Ankazobe and Vakinankaratra are among them, other districts like Ambilobe in northern Madagascar are also considered at risk. The Ministry of Health reports 134 confirmed cases in these 20 districts between August 1, 2021 and October 16, 2022 as well as 32 deaths.

Massive deforestation pushes rodents to leave their natural habitat and migrate to cities. Plague, considered a disease of the past in other countries, remains an endemic disease in Madagascar, with 75% of global plague cases reported to WHO. Madagascar registers 200 to 700 suspected clinical cases each year, mainly bubonic plague, according to the Pasteur Institute. In the rural areas of the Central Highlands at an altitude of more than 800m, there is a seasonal increase in plague cases between September and April each year.

https://www.madagascar-tribune.com/La-peste-ressurgit-apres-les-feux-de-forets.html

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Madagascar: suspected plague

An investigation is set up after the death of 5 people within the same family following an illness in the North-West of the province of Antananarivo. The inhabitants suspect the presence of the plague.

MB / YO • Published on December 22, 2022 at 1:31 p.m.

In recent weeks, several people from the same family have died in almost similar circumstances in Ambohidratrimo, located in the northwestern part of the province of Antananarivo, in the region of Analamanga.

“A 16-year-old boy died after being taken to hospital and then two other people died the same day with the same symptoms of illness. One died at eight o'clock in the evening, the other at 3 o'clock in the morning and the third person in the morning. In the space of two weeks, nearly five people died in this same family. The 59-year-old father died on December 9, the 49-year-old mother died on December 14 and then their son died on December 20, less than a week,” said Hajanirina Randrianarimanana, president of Fokontany Androhibe Ampanatonana interviewed by L'Express de Madagascar.

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/madagascar-suspicion-de-peste-1351212.html

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The plague is back in Madagascar: 5 deaths in a locality near the capital

by Sinusoid
December 23, 2022

Very worrying health situation in Madagascar. The plague strikes again and has claimed several victims in a locality located about thirty kilometers from Antananarivo, the capital, in the district of Ambohimiadana, commune Ampanotokana, district of Ambohidratrimo. Three deaths were reported on Tuesday, according to a teacher at a school that had to close due to the dangerous situation.

One of these three victims is none other than the son of a couple who died a few days earlier: the mother's funeral took place last Friday, while the father's funeral took place on Sunday, December 11 , reports our source.

Three other people, including the couple's second child, were hospitalized on Tuesday. He is already in critical condition.

For the moment, the Ministry of Public Health indicates that it is not aware of these cases, but plans to carry out an investigation.

https://freedom.fr/la-peste-est-de-retour-a-madagascar-5-deces-dans-une-localite-situee-a-proximite-de-la-capitale/

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5 plague deaths in Ampanotokana–Ambohidratrimo

Thursday, December 22 | Mandimbisoa R.

The plague strikes very close to the capital. In Ambohimiadana, Antsaharatsy, Ampanotokana commune, Ambohidratrimo district, three people died on Tuesday after being sick. Three other people had to be hospitalized, including a young man who was in critical condition.

Last week, the mother of one of the three recent victims passed away two days after the funeral of her husband who died in deplorable and worrying health circumstances. The mother of the family, despite suspicions of illness, was only buried three days after her death. The number of plague victims in this locality thus amounts to 5.

Reached by telephone, officials within the Ministry of Public Health said they had not been informed of the situation. The regional director of health in the region of Anamanga, was removed from office in the Council of Ministers, thus regretting not being able to give the slightest information on this situation in Ampanotokana. Current ministry officials say they want to investigate this information.

The symptoms and the circumstances in which the victims found themselves suggest that they suffered from the plague. Local medical authorities are also not authorized to communicate related information to the media. Nevertheless, the heads of the schools located in this village have decided to temporarily close the schools as a precaution.

https://www.madagascar-tribune.com/5-deces-dus-a-la-peste-a-Ampanotokana-Ambohidratrimo.html

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Plague in Mahitsy - Several deaths confirmed

Published on Thursday, 29 December 2022

The five individuals from the same family in the locality of Androhibe, rural commune of Mahitsy, were killed by the plague.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Public Health after analyzes carried out at the Pasteur Institute in Madagascar. The victims succumbed to the disease during the period from December 9 to 20. Of these five cases, four of them had bubonic plague and the last had pneumonic plague. Containment measures as well as tests on people in contact with these five victims, including family members and their close friends, have already been done in order to stem the spread of the disease.

We are currently in the middle of the plague season which started in August and will not end until April. Turning the dead or "famadihana" is one of the potential causes for the spread of this disease. This custom could prove dangerous because the bacterium responsible for the plague can survive for several years. Thus, when a person buried in the family tomb succumbs to this disease, he can infect all the others later during a "famadihana".

The invasion of villages by field mice is also the main cause of the spread of this scourge. Indeed, this small mammal is among the animals carrying the plague. In this period, the fields are still empty of production and their habitat having suffered the bush fires, these rodents do not hesitate to help themselves in houses or garbage dumps to feed themselves.

Already last October, several cases of people with the plague were reported. Three to five cases per week were recorded for three weeks. But this is the first time that mass deaths have been attributed to this disease.

The Ministry of Public Health reiterated that “if symptoms such as high fever accompanied by cough and difficulty breathing appear, you should go to a health center as soon as possible. The plague is easily cured if detected in time. The only way to know the nature of a disease is still to consult a qualified doctor. It could also be another disease such as Covid-19 or tuberculosis. Thus, we would be fixed on the treatment to be followed ”.

Nikki Razaf

https://laverite.mg/societe/item/17814-peste-%C3%A0-mahitsy-plusieurs-d%C3%A9c%C3%A8s-confirm%C3%A9s.html

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AMBOHIDRATRIMO - Deaths declared positive for the plague

30/12/202206:29©Madagascar Express

Cases of plague in Ambohidratrimo: The suspicion of a disease having decimated a family has been confirmed as a plague by the Ministry of Public Health in the fokontany Androhibe Ampanatonana

People who died last week and during December 9 and 14 tested positive. “After the tests carried out at the Pasteur Institute, the five deaths are confirmed as being from the plague. The survivor who contracted pneumonic plague was saved in time and received the necessary treatment,” said Professor Fidiniaina Randriatsarafara, Director General of Preventive Medicine.
The person who was hospitalized had symptoms of pneumonic plague but recovered. She is part of the same family as the deceased plague victims. The director general of preventive medicine reassures that no new case has been detected since all the people in contact with the patients have already received their treatment. As a result, the containment is lifted in the Androhibe fokontany.

Vigilance

As a reminder, in the space of two weeks, five members of one family succumbed to the plague, including a couple aged 59 and 49 as well as their 16-year-old son and two other family members. Vigilance is required in the fokontany. The cleaning of the bushes where the rats take refuge and the disinfection of the houses have been carried out. During the plague season, between August and April, cases are particularly on the rise, especially in the Highlands. As recently as last month, cases of plague were recorded in the districts of Manjakandriana, Anjozorobe and Ankazobe. One of the victims was a 7-year-old girl living in the district of Manjakandriana, Analamanga region.

https://moov.mg/article/68423-ambohidratrimo-les-deces-declares-positifs-a-la-peste#body2

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HEALTH – The plague kills an inhabitant of Anjozorobe

Article from L'Express de Madagascar • Monday

The plague killed a resident of the rural commune of Ambongamarina, in the district of Anjozorobe, last week. “The death occurred the day before yesterday. The victim is a woman,” reported the mayor of this town, Teloson Randriamaharisoa, yesterday. This disease affected other members of the family of the deceased. Two children showed symptoms of bubonic plague, namely, fever, glands. They are under surveillance at the basic health center (CSB). Transporting these children to this hospital was an ordeal. They live 18 kilometers from the capital of the commune of Ambongamarina where the CSB is located. Villagers took turns for nearly 6 hours to transport them on foot on this journey. They land there at 2 a.m. on Sunday. “This village is a very isolated area. There is no health centre, there is no means of transport and not even a network”, continues Teloson Randriamaharisoa who is asking for the construction of a health center in this village. “This disease is rampant there, almost every year. These villagers live in the middle of the forest, the natural home of

Out of danger

The spread of the disease in this fokontany of Ambohimiaramanana, in Ambongamarina is already under control. The two children would be out of danger. Their state of health has already improved. In the village, everyone who came into contact with the victims received prophylactic treatments. They were made aware of the prevention of the disease. Health authorities reacted quickly. Medical teams descended on the spot, immediately alerted by a community agent of these cases of plague. The Regional Director of Public Health (DRSP) of Analamanga, Dr. Manitra Rakotoarivony, congratulated the responsiveness of the district public health service of Anjozorobe, the head of the CSB in Ambongamarina, Marosoa Razoelimanana, and the agent community, Lydia Veronirina, who worked day and night to bring the disease under control. When the plague is treated in time, the risk of it evolving and spreading decreases.

https://www.msn.com/fr-xl/afrique-centre-et-est/madagascar-actualite/sant%C3%A9-%E2%80%93-la-peste-tue-un-habitant-danjozorobe/ar-AA16slF8

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Public health: Two cases of plague detected in Anjozorobe

The plague is still relevant in Analamanga. Two cases of bubonic plague were reported in Anjozorobe district last weekend.

The plague continues to rage

Last Saturday around 8 p.m., a community worker in Morarano alerted the Head of the basic health center to the existence of two children in a feverish state with lymph nodes in the village of Ambodivoangy, fokontany of Ambohimiaramanana, rural commune of Ambongamarina in the district of Anjozorobe. According to the Regional Director of Public Health (DRSP) in Analamanga, Dr. Manitra Rakotoarivony, this fokontanyis 18 km from the Basic Health Center (CSB) and the mobile networks are less efficient because of the distance. The inhabitants joined hands to transport these two children to the CSB which is a 6-hour walk from the village. You still had to cross a river to get there. Despite the rain and the muddy path, they finally arrived safely around 2am. The children were immediately examined and the test confirmed that it was indeed bubonic plague, adds the DRSP. They were immediately taken care of and the state of health of the two patients has already improved.
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Narindra Rakotobe

https://midi-madagasikara.mg/2023/01/17/sante-publique-deux-cas-de-peste-detectes-a-anjozorobe/

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PUBLIC HEALTH – Six cases of plague recorded in Anjozorobe district since the start of the plague season

2424.mg News & Features by 2424.mg News & Reports January 17, 2023

Antananarivo, January 17, 2:44 p.m. – The plague remains active in the district of Anjozorobe. Six confirmed cases of plague have been detected there since the start of the plague season, local health authorities say. The last two cases were detected there this weekend in the commune of Ambongamarina.

⭕These cases concern two minors. The tests carried out confirmed cases of bubonic plague. “As soon as the information was received, the health authorities descended on the spot and took care of the cases which are currently under control”, reports Dr. Manitra Rakotoarivony, regional director of public health in Analamanga.

⭕Reached by telephone on Tuesday, the mayor of Ambongamarina, Teloson Randriamaharisoa, reports a death due to the plague in his constituency this weekend. The information is however denied by the local health authorities. “No plague-related deaths have been reported in the district since the start of the plague season,” said a medical source on site.

⭕Before the two cases identified this weekend in the district of Anjozorobe, the last cases date back to December and November. The first cases were detected there at the start of the plague season around August 2022.

https://2424.mg/sante-publique-six-cas-de-peste-repertories-dans-le-district-danjozorobe-depuis-le-debut-de-la-saison-pesteuse/

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Madagascar: Ambositra - A third death which would be due to the plague reported

MARCH 23, 2023
Madagascar Express (Antananarivo)
By Miangaly Ralitera

A 24-year-old man died in the fokontany of Ambalamanakana Ambositra after showing symptoms of the plague.

The plague tends to spread in the district of Ambositra. A 24-year-old man, living in the fokontany of Ambalamanakana, died in the regional referral hospital (CHRR) of Ambositra, on the night of March 21. He presented the symptoms of the plague, according to the findings of the doctors, reported by the gendarmerie. The deceased's 11-year-old sister is also suspected of being infected. She was admitted to the basic health center (CSB) of Ambalamanakana, where she is undergoing treatment. Medical teams descended on their village shortly after the time of death to carry out response activities to limit the spread of the disease. This farmer would be the third victim of the plague, in the district of Ambositra, in one week. On March 15, a resident of the fokontany of Ilanitra, in the urban commune of Ambositra, succumbed to this disease.

Infected flea

On March 17, another person, living in the fokontany of Ampivarotanomby, in the town of Ambositra, died after showing the same symptoms. Three members of his family were ill. One of them visited relatives who live in the town of Ambositra, where he went to see a doctor. He tested positive for the plague. He is hospitalized. The other two are suspected of having contracted this disease. The bodies were buried, the same day of the deaths, while respecting the protocol of dignified and secure burials, of people who died of the plague.

Bubonic plague is a disease of rats that is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected flea. To avoid it, there is no better way than to fight rodents and fleas. When the disease progresses to pneumonic plague, the disease is transmissible from person to person. In this case, wearing a mask and isolating the sick are mandatory. If a person who has contracted the bacteria escapes medical control, they threaten to spread the bacteria to everyone who comes into contact with them. In 2017, a victim had contracted the plague in Ankazobe, and conveyed the disease to Toamasina, then an epidemic of pneumonic plague broke out, in the four corners of the island.
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https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/202303230219.html

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Madagascar: Epidemic - Plague spreads in Ambositra

APRIL 6, 2023
Madagascar Express (Antananarivo)
By Miangaly Ralitera

The plague outbreak remains active in the Amoron'i Mania region. The authorities are embarking on a major awareness campaign for the prevention of the disease.

The instructions are strict in the district of Ambositra. All quarters must be cleaned. The plague has been spreading in the Amoron'i Mania region since March.

“Amoron'i Mania is a plague hotbed. There are cases of plague almost every year. To prevent and eliminate this disease, we are mobilizing citizens for cleanliness”, announced the governor of the Amoron'i Mania region, Haingo Nambinina, yesterday.Data on this outbreak is not available from the Ministry of Public Health. It is the deputy of Ambositra, Simon Nomenjanahary Fandrava, who reports to us two deaths, whose dates of death go back to three weeks, and two patients in treatment, on the date of Saturday.

However, other sources have already announced three plague-related deaths in Ambositra, as of March 21. Another source says two confirmed deaths and eight patients who have shown symptoms of the disease since the upsurge in cases. A case of suspicious death would have occurred last week, according to other sources. What is certain is that the plague circulates in Ambositra. It would be an epidemic of bubonic plague.

Disinfection operations

Local authorities are organizing to cut the chain of transmission. “We have carried out disinfection operations in the neighborhoods where there have been suspected cases. Citizens are made aware of how to fight against rats and fleas that transmit the disease to humans,” continues Haingo Nambinina. The authorities are not going to stop at raising awareness. According to this source, they will carry out raids to inspect each neighborhood. Those responsible for slums will be punished. As for the risk of transporting the disease to other regions, no measures have been taken at bus stations. “If sick people travel by public transport, they are invited to join the health centers. “, underlines the governor. In previous epidemics,

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https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/202304060328.html

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April 24, 2023

Plague in Amoron'i Mania : An unclear Situation

Many regions and districts of the country are followed if we stick to the explanations of the Ministry of Public Health.

The plague returns every year in the districts of the Big Island. Victims are deplored and the spread of this disease in the Amoron'i Mania region since last March calls into question the efficiency and effectiveness of campaign initiatives to combat this scourge. As a reminder, the disease caused two deaths according to a parliamentarian from the district of Ambositra. Reached by telephone for further information concerning the current situation, the regional directorate of public health of Amoron'i Mania invited us to "turn to the central ministry supposed to have the data and authorized to communicate on it. A technique specific to public administration agents and which seems to have been the norm for years. It is, in fact, known to all that officials in ministries do not dare to communicate and divulge information when it seems to them to be sensitive or fair for fear of reprisals from the higher authorities of the country. As a last resort, we tried an approach with the direction of health monitoring and epidemiological surveillance of the same ministry. Our efforts were in vain. No information regarding the plague situation in the Amoron'i Mania region or in Madagascar could be obtained.

Gap. An interview with a public health official, who preferred not to mention his name, regarding the resurgence of the plague epidemic in Madagascar also indicated that "the ministry does not have any information concerning this epidemic ". The same agent noted that if the plague returns every year in Madagascar, it is because there is a " fundamental problem both in the strategies of awareness and communication campaigns and in the practices and habits of the population. Malagasy ”. According to the manager, " the problem lies in the lack of a bond of trust and partnership between public health officials and the population. ". Fear of health centres, fear or contempt for doctors, doctors' inability to communicate easily with the populations of the country's regions, landlocked or not, constitute so many obstacles to the effectiveness of campaigns to combat plague. Added to this is the vagueness maintained by the ministry around the exact situation of epidemics by “ opaque and superficial communication ”. However, it should be noted that the health centers scattered throughout the four corners of the island have the necessary means and tools to detect the plague. And that in case of suspicion, a device is directly triggered in order to contain the disease.

Jose Belalahy

https://midi-madagasikara.mg/2023/04/24/peste-dans-lamoroni-mania-une-situation-floue/