Influenza outbreak in Madagascar
The Ministry of Health, assisted by the Institut Pasteur and a team from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network investigated a mystery disease in the highlands of Madagascar in July and August 2002. They identified the agent as influenza A virus subtype H3N2. The team assessed the epidemiological situation and provided antimicrobials for case management, rapid diagnostic tests and laboratory equipment. A daily reporting system was introduced.
Despite this work, over 800 deaths were reported and the high fatality rate raised concern that the influenza virus might be a particularly virulent strain. However, the virus was rapidly characterized by the WHO influenza network as an epidemic strain previously detected in various parts of the world. WHO is working with the Ministry of Health to continue to strengthen the surveillance and reporting systems, to ensure antibiotics are available at health centres and to improve recognition of the symptoms of influenza among both health workers and the general public.
See reports in Disease Outbreak News and in the Weekly Epidemiological Record.