Nation on Alert against Bubonic Plague

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 ◆ Nation on Alert against Bubonic Plague

China's quarantine authorities are on high alert against bubonic plague after an outbreak of the disease began on April 16 in the district of Nsanje in Malawi. As of May 27, 71 cases had been reported. Bubonic plague, a form of rodent disease which can affect humans, is caused by an insect bite through which the plague bacillus travels through the lymphatic system to the nearest lymph node. In the most serious cases, people die within three days after symptoms occur. The State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine sent an urgent communique to quarantine branches urging them to closely check traffic, tools, commodities, containers, luggage and postal parcels coming from the epidemic area, in a bid to stop the virus from entering China. In light of the seriousness of the virus, the administration also asked local agencies to offer health tips and information on the epidemic to people heading to the infected region. Local agencies are also offering consultancy services to out-going passengers on international travel hygiene and health care, according to the notice. "In the case that a passenger from the epidemic region is found to have symptoms such as fever, enlargement of the lymph nodes, chest pain, cough or internal bleeding, he or she should report to departments of exit-entry inspection and quarantine administration and should be held for prompt checkups," said the notice. Strict checks must be conducted on rats, fleas and other transmitters, added the notice. The outbreak in the southern African country Malawi, which has a population of 10 million, has so far affected 26 villages: 23 in the Ndamera area, two in Chimombo and one village in neighbouring Mozambique. There is good cross border collaboration between Malawian and Mozambican health teams, according to a report from World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is assisting the Malawian Ministry of Health surveillance unit and the Nsanje district health staff in their efforts to contain the outbreak by providing supplies and technical support, including the training of health workers.