Plague affected areas 2017
Affected districts
- Ambatondrazaka
- Ambohidratrimo
- Andramasina
- Ankazobe
- Anosibean'ala
- Tana south
- Tana north
- Arivonimamo
- Faratsiho
- Maevatanana
- Majunga 1
- Miarinarivo
- Moramanga
- Toamasina 1
- Toamasina 2
- Tsiroanomandidy
- Vohémar
- Ambalavao
Treatments
- Cotrim
- Streptomycin (WHO 2015)
- Gentamicin (WHO 2015)
- Ciprofloxacin
- Tetracyclin (WHO 2015)
- Doxycyclin
- Co-Trimoxazol
- Chloraphenicol
- to be taken for 10 days + min. 3 days after fewer is gone
WHO statement 2015
Treatment with common antibiotics such as tetracyclines, gentamycin or streptomycin are efficient on human plague but their efficacy depends on early detection. When this is the case, case fatality can be reduced from 60% to less than 15% for bubonic plague. This is especially important for the pneumonic form, which is highly contagious, can kill in less than 24 hours, and is invariably fatal in the absence of treatment.
WHO statement 2017
Pneumonic plague can be fatal within 18 to 24 hours of disease onset if left untreated, but common antibiotics for enterobacteria (gram negative rods) can effectively cure the disease if they are delivered early.
WHO statement 2017
Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential to reduce complications and fatality. Effective treatment methods enable plague patients to be cured, if diagnosed in time. These methods include the administration of antibiotics as Aminoglycosides, Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides and supportive therapy.
For more information please contact:
Fadéla Chaib
WHO Department of Communications
Mobile: +41 79 475 5556
Telephone: +41 22 791 3228
Email: chaibf@who.int
Links
- Information for international travellers by WHO, 3rd October 2017)
- Plague fact sheet by WHO, 7th October 2017
