Madagascar in panic amid raging “double plague” outbreak; dozens dead

Enlarge / A man wearing a face mask works in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as plague spreads rapidly in cities across the country. (credit: Getty | Anadolu)

An unusually deadly seasonal outbreak of plague has gripped the island nation of Madagascar. As of Friday, 258 have been sickened and 36 have died just since August, according to Madagascar's Ministry of Public Health.

To try to stifle the spread, the government has forbidden public gatherings, including sporting events, and schools have closed for insecticide treatments that kill plague-spreading fleas. People have swarmed pharmacies, desperately seeking face masks and any antibiotics they can get. The World Health Organization on Friday announced that it has released $1.5 million in emergency funds and delivered nearly 1.2 million antibiotic doses to help combat the outbreak.

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