We ask you, urgently: don’t scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
Madagascar plague outbreak appears to be new, antibiotic resistant strain, can kill within three hours
FREE Catholic Classes
An ancient disease is stalking humanity once again, and this time it is exceptionally deadly. The plague has reemerged in Madagascar and is burning through the population there. Doctors fear the new strain is resistant to antibiotics and kills much faster than previous strains.
A worker is disinfected after clearing a house of a plague victim. There are inconclusive reports the disease can kill within three hours. Such fast-killing diseases typically burn themselves out before they can spread far. The WHO has sent 1.2 million doses of antibiotics to the region.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
11/15/2017 (7 years ago)
Published in Africa
Keywords: Black Death, Plague, Madagascar, spread, disease, outbreak, world, pandemic
LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The plague, also known as the Black Death, is ravaging Madagascar, and doctors fear the disease will spread to Africa and the rest of the world between now and April.
The plague is thought to have originated in Asia between 20,000 to 5,000 years ago with the germ undergoing a genetic change and becoming exceptionally deadly around 3,000 years ago. It has caused multiple plagues throughout history, notably the sixth century Plague of Justinian and the Black Death of 1347-1354. During the Black Death, the plague killed between 30-60 percent of the people in Europe. At that time, it was feared by many to be the end of the world.
But every few hundred years or so, the plague appears to mutate and emerge in a deadlier form. This is what is happening in Madagascar.
Local officials have blamed the outbreak on a custom which involves digging up the dead and dancing with their bodies each year until they are fully decomposed. Despite local bans on the practice amid the outbreak, many people have defied the decree. The people believe the dead cannot enter heaven unless this is done. It is unclear if this practice is responsible for the outbreak, or if the disease entered the human population by some other form of transmission.
What doctors do know is that this strain is extremely virulent. Whereas the plague normally takes up to a week to kill, the new strain has reportedly killed within three hours. That's faster than doctors can respond with life-saving antibiotics.
People treating the sick can also catch the pneumonic plague, which is the same disease but spread by coughing. A victim who catches the disease in their lungs will die within 24 hours.
So far, about 2,000 cases have been reported with 165 fatalities, but doctors fear the disease and deaths are going underreported.
If there is any consolation, it is that the disease is killing so quickly, it may burn itself out in a short time, killing its patients before it can spread very far. Sick people travel less.
However, countries in Africa and the islands around Madagascar are on high alert, looking for sick people stepping off boats and planes. Plague victims are easy to recognize, as their skin turns black and their lymph nodes swell. The disease is painful and causes severe coughing fits.
The disease has a history of pandemic capability, so doctors fear such an eventuality. Should the disease outbreak to the rest of the world, it could ravage populations. It could also mutate further, developing new, yet deadlier varieties of itself.
At this time, officials from the World Health Organization as well as from an array of other public health agencies are working around the clock to stop the disease. However, they warn their resources are tight. The World Health Organization has sent 1.2 million doses of antibiotics to the region. They also warn they expect the plague to become worse before it gets better.
For now, the world has nothing to fear, since the disease is regionally contained. However, if it makes the jump to Africa, the long-term outlook could be grim.
Support FREE Catholic Education
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, January 04, 2025
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Saint of the Day for Saturday, January 04, 2025
- Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, December 31, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, January 03, 2025
- St. Genevieve: Saint of the Day for Friday, January 03, 2025
- St. Theresa of the Child Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Monday, December 30, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.