Experts warn Madagascar’s hospitals will fail to cope if the deadly plague outbreak escalates after scores of medics have been struck down as fears grow the disease could become antibiotic resistant
EXCLUSIVE
Scores of doctors and nurses have been struck down by the deadly disease
As it grows momentum, hospitals will be unable to meet the illness’ burden
Some 2,034 have been infected so far in the worst outbreak in 50 years
Of these 82 were healthcare workers, making up 4% of those inflicted
Treatment with antibiotics may cause drug resistance making it ‘far, far scarier’
By STEPHEN MATTHEWS
DAILYMAIL.COM
15 November 2017
Madagascar’s healthcare system will be unable to cope if the deadly plague outbreak continues to escalate, a scientist has warned.
Scores of doctors and nurses have been struck down with the disease, which is predicted to gather momentum in the coming weeks and there are growing fears hospitals will be unable to meet the illness’ burden.
Official figures reveal at least 2,034 people have been infected with the ‘medieval disease’ so far in what has been described as the ‘worst outbreak in 50 years’ having claimed 165 lives.
World Health Organization data shows 82 healthcare workers have been struck down with the bacterial disease – around four per cent of the total number of cases.
Although the plague is responding well to antibiotics, drug resistance is also an increasing concern amongst experts who predict it will vastly accelerate the disease’s death toll.
Professor John Joe McFadden from the University of Surrey told MailOnline: ‘Fortunately in plague, it has not developed much antibiotic resistance. If that kicks in, the plague will be far, far scarier.
‘If you throw more and more antibiotics at patients, antibiotic resistance is more less inevitable.’
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