A multidisciplinary team mandated by the Provincial Health Division put on personal protective equipment (PPE) in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo on February 26, 2021. In total, more than 300 cases of the bubonic plague have been reported to date. The Congolese outbreak is the oldest plague outbreak in the world, yet remains the least known due to its location in an unstable area.
A multidisciplinary team mandated by the local authorities has been sent to describe the possible ecological causes of the epidemic (linked to human activities and behaviour).
The transmission of the plague to humans occurs via infected fleas present in rodents, and rats in particular.
Rats contaminate homes by entering houses, attracted by food and food stocks.
Flea traps have been placed in the homes so that tests can be carried out to confirm the presence of the plague.,Image: 595579375, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no