Plague Reappearance in Algeria after 50 Years, 2003

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Bertherat, Eric ; Bekhoucha, Souad ; Chougrani, Saada ; Razik, Fathia ; Duchemin, Jean B. ; Houti, Leila ; Deharib, Larbi ; Fayolle, Corinne ; Makrerougrass, Banaouda ; Dali-Yahia, Radia ; Bellal, Ramdan ; Belhabri, Leila ; Chaieb, Amina ; Tikhomirov, Evgueni ; Carniel, Elisabeth
• Description:
  An outbreak of plague occurred in the region of Oran, Algeria, from June to July 2003. Algeria had not reported this disease for >50 years. Eighteen bubonic cases were identified, and Yersinia pestis was isolated from 6 patients. Except for the index case-patient, all patients recovered. Targeted chemoprophylaxis, sanitation, and vector control played a crucial role in controlling the outbreak. Epidemiologic and biomolecular findings strongly suggested the existence of a local animal reservoir during this period, but its origin (resurgence or re-importation) could not be determined. This sudden and unexpected reemergence of plague, close to an important commercial seaport, is a textbook illustration of a public health event of international importance. It also demonstrates that the danger of plague reoccurrence is not limited to the currently indexed natural foci.
• Subjects:
  Animals Antibiotic Prophylaxis Contact Tracing Disease Outbreaks Disease Reservoirs Disease Vectors Humans Research Rodent Diseases Sanitation Siphonaptera

  More +
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 13(10):1459-1462.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Algeria
• Location:
  Africa
• Volume:
  13
• Issue:
  10
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:0999a74ab85fed569511a8c1293aea33f107ec94b0e58e96c67e88f1853b1ced
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/16757/cdc_16757_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 127.16 KB ]