Plague Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Plague, including details on bubonic plague, yersinia pestis, infection, types, treatment.

Knowledge, attitudes and public health response towards plague in Petauke, Zambia.

Ngulube TJ, Mwanza K, Njobvu CA, Muula AS

Centre for Health, Science and Social Research (CHESSORE), The University of Zambia.

In 2001, two plague outbreaks were reported in Zambia, one of which occurred in Petauke, Eastern Province, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Of the community respondents, 43.4% did not know the aetiology of plague. Although rats and fleas were frequently mentioned, many respondents did not know how these were related to plague. Local belief that the plague outbreak was the result of witchcraft was prevalent. Use of rodenticides was not preferred as these were reports of they being used for poisoning people. The public health response was initially slow by both the community and also the formal health sector. Once the diagnosis of plague was made, fears of witchcraft dispelled and collaboration not only between the formal health sector and the community, but also between Zambian health workers and their Mozambican counterparts developed, and it was possible to control the outbreak.

Published 12 October 2006 in Trop Doct, 36(4): 223-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Plague Research Today. All Rights Reserved.