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Paris, 2 November, 2017
Since 23 August, the plague epidemic in Madagascar has killed more than 110 people. The number of suspected cases is 1,554. Having been sent to consider a response to the needs of health centres, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s emergency team, back in Paris, testifies.
A contagious and deadly disease
In mid-October, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL launched an exploratory mission to Antananarivo in order to define a possible response by our teams to the pneumonic plague epidemic in the Malagasy capital.
“Bubonic plague cases are common in Madagascar: about 50 per year. This rat- and flea-borne disease is not contagious and is rarely fatal when treated in time. Isolated cases are often identified in remote areas where hygiene conditions are deplorable. This year, the capital was particularly affected by cases of pneumonic plague, a highly contagious form of the disease if it is not treated within 36 hours, explains Yann Julou back from Antananarivo. Our teams have reported a strong need for infection prevention and control (IPC) as well as for training of healthcare and hospital staff in general who are not used to this respiratory form.”
Needs covered by local authorities and NGOs
Despite the needs and the explosion in two months of the number of suspect cases, local authorities and humanitarian actors in the country have been able to find medical, human, technical and financial resources to respond to the crisis. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has therefore decided not to intervene at this time. The Ministry of Health has resumed operations with the assistance of UNICEF, WHO and USAID.
Our teams on alert for an emergency response
“A total of 200 people have been recruited to prevent and control the epidemic in the plague triage and treatment centres, and the national coordination process put in place for surveillance, care, response and awareness-raising has begun to bear fruit with a drastic reduction in the number of suspect cases since 20 October. This exploration mission will allow us to be all the more responsive and effective if a new crisis strikes Madagascar. We’re staying on alert,” says Yann Julou.
Our teams have returned from Madagascar and are at your disposal to testify
Press contact
Tugdual de Dieuleveult
06 64 92 50 37
tdedieuleveult@solidarites.org