Author Topic: Madagascar plague outbreak kills 40  (Read 404 times)

Offline SysError

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Madagascar plague outbreak kills 40
« on: November 21, 2014, 07:35:34 PM »
I wonder how this will develop.

The have bubonic plague (which can be treated with antibiotics) and a small (2%) of cases with the more dangerous pneumonic form of the disease.  It can be spread by coughing.   :eek:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30152979

I've heard of small outbreaks in parts of India before that were controlled.  I wonder if the health care system in Madagascar is up to the job.  :headscratch:

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Offline Delirium

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Re: Madagascar plague outbreak kills 40
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2014, 08:01:59 PM »
The plague is treatable with antibiotics if caught early as it is a gram negative bacteria. In addition, we even have a couple vaccines and they are working to make them 100% effective. The plague isn't the end of the world, we have many cases of bubonic and even pneumonic types within the United States every year.

I still say that Ebola is the far greater threat; we have no antibiotics, antivirals are minimally effective, we have no vaccine, and it is a RNA based virus that is prone to mutation. At this time, we just treat Ebola patients for the symptoms until the bodies own immune system beats the virus back or dies trying. The good news is that we may be able to synthesize a vaccine from survivors, but contrary to popular belief that will help against one strain only and is useless when it mutates.

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Offline Scherf

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Re: Madagascar plague outbreak kills 40
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2014, 01:07:52 AM »
They had a previous outbreak of the same bug a couple of years back, and no doubt before that too.

No, the health system ain't up to much, third-world kind of place, though support from France keeps them from the devil's door.
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Madagascar plague outbreak kills 40
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2014, 09:55:35 AM »
Ebola Syndrome - the movie. Instant classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqIMjHpxJes  :D
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