Current Situation and Management of Plague Cases in Madagascar

The plague is endemic and epidemic in Madagascar since its introduction in 1898 through Toamasina port. This disease is no longer a public health concerns in many developed countries. This disease is not yet eradicated because his presence in Madagascar, which is the most, affected country in the world (CRM, 2015).

From 300 to 600 cases are reported annually by the basic health centers; The endemic foci are schematically located within two triangles [1,2]; (i) the big triangle in the central highland whose angles are formed by Lake of Alaotra in the North, Tsiroanomandidy in the West and Ambalavao in the South; (ii) the little triangle in the North in Tsaratanana massif.

The fight against plague revolves around the epidemiological triad “rat-flea-man” (Figures 1-3).

Figure 1: Factors contributing into Plague and Death. *Early and correct management. ** The list is not exhaustive on the factors favoring death.

Figure 2: The endemical foci of plague.

Figure 3: The transmission mode of Plague.

Current Situation

The real-time plague situation as of 15 November 2016 is summarized as follows:

1) Active foci: 03 districts, i.e. a percentage of 7.1% (03/42)

2) Tsiroanomandidy: 02 PB+

3) Fenoarivo-Be: 01 PB+ (deceased)

4) Anjozorobe: 01 PB+

5) Patient in treatment: 02 in Tsiroanomandidy

6) Number of deaths: 01 (out of health facility)

7) Total case fatality rate during epidemiological weeks S34 to S46: 3.70% vs. 34.04% during the same period in 2015.

Control of Plague

In Madagascar, the control is based on:

1) Epidemiological Surveillance, including the surveillance of dead rats at the community level.

2) Early diagnosis of the disease and rapid response around the cases. This treatment is free of charge at the public health facilities following the well-established treatment protocol.

3) Chemoprophylaxis of contacts using Sulfamethoxazole- Trimethoprim at 40/80 mg/Kg/day for 5 days.

4) Disinfection of the premises of patients with Lime Chloride or HTH.

5) The disinsectisation of the household in and around the homes within a radius of 200 meters by the Fenitrothion (organophosphorus insecticide).

6) Mechanical control of rats reservoir and vectors (fleas).

7) Action of Information-Education-Communication for behavior change, as well as operational research which are also essential for success of the program.

The principles of treatment

1) Treatment is free of charge.

2) Early and correct treatment (more than 96% of recovery). It has been demonstrated by various earlier studies [3-5] that delayed diagnosis and treatment within more than 3 days after the onset of disease darkens the prognosis and may lead to death.

3) On-site treatment; avoid patient reference or evacuation to stop the spread of germs; for Antananarivo-City only, the case management is carried out at the Center Hospitalier Anti-Pesteux d'Ambohimiandra (CHAPA). In other place, diagnosis and treatment are carried out at the local health facilities CSB, district level hospital, regional level hospital, University health center.

4) No penicillin, the bacillus is resistant to the action of the penicillin [6] but is sensitive to most antibiotics like chloramphenicol injectable, cyclines, sulfonamides, gentamycin, etc. For Meyer, streptomycin (SMY) remains the most effective antibiotic [2].

5) Specific and standard treatment according to the National Plague Control Program.

6) Biological samples (bubo, sputum, post mortem) and on-the-spot screening by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT plague), which has been developed since 1997 [7-9], prior the initiation of treatment.

Specific standard treatment of the national pest program

Bubonic plague: Streptomycin for 4 days in a fractional dose to avoid the risk of massive bacterial lysis that can lead to endotoxic shock, relayed by Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim for 6 days from the 3rd day of treatment. An adult patient will receive, for example, 10 grams (10 vials) of SMY during the treatment period of a total of 8 days [9-12].

Pulmonary plague: Streptomycin only 22 gm of SMY in 8 days for an adult.

Duration: 8-10 days

The plague is present in Madagascar for over a century, exactly 108 years. All the interventions to be undertaken in the fight against this scourge require effective intersectoral collaboration.

We will conclude our presentation with these few hopeful words by saying: "We are happy to learn today that men have walked on the moon. Let us hope that one day the plague will disappear from this planet”.