Black Death plague ‘IMPOSSIBLE to eradicate’ as rats spread disease across continents
THE lethal Black Death plague killing dozens in Madagascar will never be eradicated because rats carrying the sinister disease are too “widespread”, an expert has warned.
By Joshua Nevett
DailyStar.co.uk
17th November 2017
At least 171 people have died from the deadly disease with a further 2,119 thought to be infected in the east African country, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dozens of doctors have been struck down with the disease amid fears the plague could prove to be worse than the Ebola crisis of 2014.
Scientists believe fleas infected with the “medieval disease”, caused by the Yersina pestis bacteria, are responsible for the major outbreak – the “worst in 50 years”.
These fleas transmit the disease to rodents, which in turn become infected before dying in homes, therefore bringing the sinister insects closer to humans.
Professor Allen Cheng, infectious disease expert at Monash University, said rats are so “widespread”, there’s no stopping the disease from spreading.
Writing for The Conversation, he described the airborne plague as “unusual” due to the number of cases reported in major cities.
He wrote: “It’s not possible to eradicate plague, as it is widespread in wildlife rodents outside the sphere of human influence.”
As healthcare officials scramble to treat patients, experts believe the killer bacteria may evolve to become resistant to antibiotics leading to “eternal” plague outbreaks.
In an update on November 15, the WHO said it expected “more cases of plague to be reported” in the coming months to April.
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