Suspected pneumonic plague case identified by WHO in Seychelles

The Seychellois Ministry of Health recently notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a probable case of pneumonic plague emanating from a man who visited Madagascar, which has been experiencing an outbreak of plague in its major cities and other non-endemic areas since August of this year.

In this instance, the 34-year old man from Seychelles, an island nation off the coast of East Africa, returned home from a visit to Madagascar on Oct. 6. Three days later, the man developed symptoms of the disease and presented himself to a local health center.

A subsequent medical examination, along with his reported history of travel, led health officials to believe that pneumonic plague infection was suspected. From there, the man was transferred to a hospital for isolation and treatment.

On Oct. 11, health officials conducted a rapid diagnostic test on a sputum sample that came back “weakly positive,” according to WHO. Since that time, the man has been treated as a probable case until a WHO plague reference lab can confirm infection.

Eight individuals who were in contact with the man also developed symptoms and have been isolated. Two additional suspected cases have also been identified, although neither individual had any epidemiological link to the first probable case.

WHO noted that 10 laboratory specimens have been collected from the probable case, all of which have been sent to the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France for testing and confirmation.

In total, 320 individuals have been monitored for possible infection due to contact with the first probable case, including 41 passengers and crew from his flight from Madagascar, 12 close family members, and 18 staff and patients from the man’s local health center. Each individual was given a prophylactic course of antibiotics to prevent infection.

WHO said that the risk of further disease spread in Seychelles is considered low and the overall regional and global risk levels were very low.