title: Plague reappearance in Algeria after 50 years, 2003.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. bertherate@who.int
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertherat
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekhoucha
authors.forename: Saada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chougrani
authors.forename: Fathia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Razik
authors.forename: Jean B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Duchemin
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Houti
authors.forename: Larbi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deharib
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fayolle
authors.forename: Banaouda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Makrerougrass
authors.forename: Radia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dali-Yahia
authors.forename: Ramdan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellal
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belhabri
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaieb
authors.forename: Evgueni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tikhomirov
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carniel
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D010930:Plague / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D012499:Sanitation; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology