MOSCOW, November 21 (Sputnik) — At least 40 people have died from plague in Madagascar in the last four months, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a Friday statement.
"As of 16 November, a total of 119 cases of plague have been confirmed, including 40 deaths… The situation is further complicated by the high level of resistance to deltamethrin (an insecticide used to control fleas) that has been observed in the country," WHO reported.
On November 4, Madagascar's Health Ministry informed WHO of a plague outbreak. According to WHO, "the first case, a male from Soamahatamana village in the district of Tsiroanomandidy, was identified on 31 August. The patient died on 3 September."
The health organization has recommended surveillance of epidemic risk indicators in urban areas, such as the country's capital Antananarivo in order to prevent further possible outbreaks.
