Bubonic plague antibodies found in dead rat in Tembisa
Thirteen rats were collected from the informal settlement, and one of them tested positive for plague antibodies
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it is taking measures to prevent the outbreak of bubonic plague in humans after a dead rat, found in an informal settlement in Mayibuye in Tembisa, tested positive for plague antibodies on March 16.
The NICD, together with environmental health services, made the plague discovery after collecting samples for a monitoring programme that tests for various rodent-borne diseases, including plague. Thirteen rats were collected from the informal settlement, and one of them tested positive for plague antibodies.
According to John Frean, Associate Professor at the Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections at the NICD, the discovery is reason to intensify monitoring and control to prevent the disease occurring in humans.
“Flea control to protect the community and intensified surveillance to detect further evidence of plague activity, have been instituted. The finding is an early indication that escalation of surveillance and control activities are required.”
Frean emphasised that there was “no evidence of current infection, only of previous exposure,” in the infected rat. He said the absence of unusual rodent mortality suggests there was no outbreak of rodent plague in progress and there was no immediate threat to human health.”
According to the World Health Organisation , plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia Pestis. It is usually spread between rats by bites and by fleas. It is also spread to humans by fleas carrying the bacteria from rats. In the 14th century it was known as the Black Death in Europe and killed tens of millions of people. If left untreated, 30% to 60% of people with it die.
The last outbreak of bubonic plague in South Africa was 34 years ago in the Eastern Cape, according to the NICD.
The NICD has asked people not to handle live or dead rodents.
