China cautious about quarantine amid Madagascar plague outbreak

China has vowed to tighten quarantining against plague as a rare epidemic sweeps Madagascar.

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said on Tuesday it has taken measures including risk assessment, enhanced quarantine and inspection at customs, and intensified health education and publicity to prevent plague from entering the country

The administration said it will pay close attention to the development of the epidemic in Madagascar and adjust prevention measures.

By Oct. 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) had confirmed 1,297 cases of plague in Madagascar since the outbreak on August 1.

The WHO said 846 cases have been diagnosed as pneumonic plague, the deadliest type that can spread from human to human.

The plague has caused 102 deaths in Madagascar and the WHO has raised the alert level.

Plague warnings have been issued for nine other countries, including South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

(CGTN)