Background Plague is a re-emerging disease and pneumonic plague is the most
feared clinical form. We describe a well-documented outbreak of pneumonic
plague in Madagascar.
Methods Field epidemiological data were collected. Biological tests (micros
copy, culture of Yersinia pestis, F1 antigen ELISA and dipstick assays, IgG
anti-Fl ELISA) were done on sputum, serum, or necropsy samples. The infect
ion rate among 154 contacts was assessed by anti-Fl serological techniques.
Findings The index case was a bubonic patient with a secondary lung infecti
on, who contaminated a traditional healer and his family. Funeral ceremonie
s and attendance on patients contaminated other villagers. In total 18 case
s were recorded, and eight died. F1 antigen could be detected in sputum by
ELISA and dipstick tests as early as the second day after the onset of the
symptoms and also 48 h after treatment. Among the contact population 13 of
154 (8.4%) have been exposed to the plague bacillus (symptomless or latent
infections).
Interpretation The F1 dipstick assay on sputum is an invaluable diagnostic
tool for pneumonic plague. Treatment of patients and chemoprophylaxis of co
ntacts were efficient in stopping the epidemic.