The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued alerts for nine countries near Madagascar amid fears the disease could spread via trade and transport.
The disease has been spread through pneumonic carriers, as it is airborne and transmitted through sneezing and coughing.
Health experts have warned that the epidemic could spread to other surrounding countries in the region with the death tolls reaching 124 and with more than 1 300 people infected.
The Medieval disease had killed one third of Europe’s population in the 13th and 14th centuries. Known as the Black Death, the pandemic resulted infamously in one of the highest death tolls in human history.
Dr Ashok Chopra, told The Sun Online the crisis in Madagascar has not peaked yet. The expert warned that the plague could spread through the region by means of regular flights leaving the island.
“If they are travelling shorter distances and they’re still in the incubation period, and they have the pneumonic (form) then they could spread it to other places. We don’t want to have a situation where the disease spreads so fast it sort of gets out of control.”
He explained however that the current outbreak was more serious from the medieval pandemic. “Most of the cases in the past have been of the bubonic plague but if you look at this particular outbreak, 70 percent of the cases are pneumonic plague, which is the most deadly form of the disease.
“If the treatment is not given in a very short period of time these people will end up dying.”
The disease is spreading “very rapidly”, Chopra added, noting that the number of cases in Madagascar has doubled within a week.
Christine South, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emergency operations, said: “With anything like this there is a possibility that somebody could be infected and get on a plane.
“We have done preparedness support to some of the neighbouring countries.”
In a statement, the WHO said: “The risk of regional spread is moderate due to the occurrence of frequent travel by air and sea to neighbouring Indian Ocean islands and other southern and east African countries.”
“Nine countries and overseas territories have been identified as priority countries in the African region for plague preparedness and readiness by virtue of having trade and travel links to Madagascar.
“These countries and overseas territories include Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, La Réunion (France), Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania.”
