ANTIBIOTICS AREN'T WORKING AGAINST PLAGUE

Black death plague ravaging Madagascar will ‘get WORSE’ as antibiotics AREN’T working

THE dreaded Black Death plague blighting Madagascar will “get worse before it gets better” if antibiotics aren’t handed out quickly, a scientist has told Daily Star Online.

At least 165 people have been killed by the devastating outbreak of an airborne disease spreading like wildfire in Madagascar.

Around another 2,000 people have been struck down by the – called pneumonic plague – by the lethal “medieval disease”.

Infection and immunity expert Dr Matthew Avison, of University of Bristol, has revealed the outbreak in east Africa is likely to become more serious before the "crisis" ends.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online, Dr Avison said because the disease is “extremely rare” it has been “resilient” to antibiotics.

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GLOBAL OUTBREAK: The Black Death plague has killed at least 165 people in east Africa

BLACK DEATH hits Madagascar: Medieval plague decimates African coast

 

The plague death toll has risen to 143 in Madagascar. World Health Organization figures show the black death outbreak has now infected 1,947 people in the country off the east coast of Africa.

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World Health Organization figures show the plague has killed at least 143 people

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“Because this disease is extremely rare, it doesn’t get exposed to antibiotics that often,” he said.

“That means it’s more resistant to antibiotics and the risk of death is higher.”

However, he said if antibiotics are handed out quickly then the disease “can still be treated”.

Failure to do so could result in the outbreak – the “worst in 50 years” – spreading to other continents, including Europe and the US, he warned.

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MEDICAL AID: Dr Avison said antibiotics can cure the disease if taken quickly

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