-Caveat Lector-
Bubonic Plague Confirmed in Namibia
Monday, May 10, 1999; 12:14 p.m. EDT
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) -- Local medical authorities confirmed Monday an
outbreak of bubonic plague in Namibia's populous north-central region that
has killed three of the 73 people with the disease.
Dr. Naftali Hamata of the Namibian health ministry said tests done at the
South African Institute for Medical Research last week showed that six of 11
samples sent for analysis proved positive for bubonic plague. He said the
other five cases may also still prove positive, but more testing must be
done.
``Even though not all of them are confirmed to have the disease, we are
taking no chances and testing everyone,'' he said.
Bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, killed an estimated 25 million
people in Europe between 1346 and 1351, wiping out nearly one-third of the
population. The disease is transmitted by fleas infecting rats which in turn
infect humans. If left untreated, it can kill within three to five days.
Today, it is easily treatable by powerful modern antibiotics.
Hamata said his ministry suspected the outbreak was caused by young cattle
herders who came into contact with rats carrying the virus while hunting them
for food.
Outbreaks of the disease in the area have been reported since the early
1960s, Hamata said.
``We are having all the affected homesteads in the area sprayed (with
pesticide) at the moment, but you have to catch every rat to be sure it is
gone,'' he said.
© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press
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