Plague outbreak in Madagascar

[angelburst29]

In the last week or so, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published numerous articles on the large Plague outbreak in Madagascar. One detail WHO fails to mention, the citizens of Madagascar have a religious practice called Famadihana, where the dead are exhumed, wrap in fresh cloth and they dance with them ... before putting them back into grave.

There have been fears a recent plague outbreak in Madagascar could spread to Africa and Europe but a World Health Organization spokesperson told Sputnik why they were not recommending putting the island into quarantine.

Madagascar: 'Low' Risk of Deadly Plague Spreading Globally, WHO Tells Sputnik
https://sputniknews.com/africa/201711011058728553-madagascar-plague-who-risks/

Madagascar, an island nation off the coast of south-east Africa, has been hit by an outbreak of pneumonic plague, which has killed at least 124 people since August.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which has deployed 115 people to the island and delivered 1.3 million doses of antibiotics, said it was not recommending putting the island into quarantine.

"WHO advises against any restriction on travel or trade to Madagascar based on the current information available," a WHO spokesperson told Sputnik.

The Evidence and the Advice

"The evidence tells us that the risks associated with shutting borders are higher than keeping them open. Shutting borders creates social disruption, suspicion, underground routes and other negative effects that interfere with an effective response," the spokesperson told Sputnik.

​"It is far more effective to keep society functioning as normal and to concentrate on the most effective actions, such as informing and protecting the public, training health workers, following up on cases and their contacts and so on," said the WHO spokesperson.

"International travelers to Madagascar should be informed about the outbreak and the necessary protection measures. Travelers should protect themselves against flea bites, avoid contact with dead animals, infected tissues or materials, and avoid close contact with patients with pneumonic plague," he added.

​But the WHO is helping seven nearby countries — South Africa, Comoros, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania and the French colony of Reunion and Mayotte — to increase plague preparedness and surveillance.

Ethiopia and Kenya are also raising preparedness levels because they have airline connections with Madagascar.

Overall Risk

"The overall risk of further spread of plague from Madagascar at the global level is low, and at the regional level is moderate," the WHO spokesperson told Sputnik.

The most common form of the disease is usually bubonic plague, which is transmitted by fleas carried by rats and cannot be transmitted from human to human.

But 67 percent of the victims in this outbreak have been infected with the deadliest pneumonic form of the disease, which can be transmitted by respiratory droplets from coughing.

The plague has already spread from the Ankazobe district into the capital of Antananarivo and the port city of Toamasina.

"Although plague is endemic to Madagascar, the current outbreak is occurring in densely populated cities, and has spread to non-endemic areas which are not used to handling plague cases," the WHO spokesperson told Sputnik.

"The proportion of pneumonic plague — the form which can be transmitted from person to person — is much higher than in the past. Pneumonic plague requires immediate intervention because of the associated high case fatality rate and high transmissibility," he added.

Exit Screening at Airports

Jimmy Whitworth, Professor of International Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the plague outbreak was "very worrying."

"There are exit screening processes in place at ports and airports in Madagascar. People with plague will be severely sick and easily recognized. The incubation period is short (1-4 days) so anybody traveling who is incubating plague is likely to become sick while traveling or shortly after arrival," Professor Whitworth told Sputnik.

"The risk to the UK and Europe from returning travelers is graded as low or very low, for the reasons given above. There are few direct flights to Europe from Madagascar and the number of travelers is likely to be quite low," Professor Whitworth told Sputnik.

Decline in Cases, 'Further Spikes' Possible

The WHO spokesperson said that Madagascar's Ministry of Health had begun to see a decline in reported cases, but people were still being admitted to hospital.

"At this time we cannot say with certainty that the epidemic has subsided. We are about three months into the epidemic season, which goes on until April 2018.

"Even if the recent declining trend is confirmed, we cannot rule out the possibility of further spikes in transmission between now and April 2018," the WHO spokesperson told Sputnik.

Officials have reportedly told residents to stop practicing a ritual called "famadihana," which involves digging up the bones of loved ones, unwrapping them, re-wrapping them and parading them through the streets.

The WHO has released US$1.5 million through a Contingency Fund for Emergencies but says more money is urgently needed.

In 2014, an outbreak of the Ebola virus in west Africa led to concerns about it spreading to Europe and other continents.

The WHO did not impose quarantine on Sierra Leone or Liberia, the two worst affected countries, but several countries, including Australia, Jamaica and Suriname, imposed their own ad-hoc bans

When a deadly epidemic arrives, local traditions and rituals may do more harm than good.

Never Going to Dance Again: Madagascar Authorities Warn Not to Handle Corpses
https://sputniknews.com/viral/201710291058640815-madagascar-authorities-plague-ritual/

Madagascar's authorities have urged residents to abandon the Famadihana ritual, citing concerns about a plague outbreak. The ritual, among other things, stipulates that relatives must perform ritual dances with their exhumed relatives.

"'If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for a Famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body," Willy Randriamarotia, Madagascar's health ministry chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,000 cases of plague have been registered in Madagascar since August 2017. 300 of them were confirmed by laboratory tests, with the death toll already standing at 124 people. The disease has spread to 37 of the 114 regions of the island state.

Famadihana is a ritual ceremony of honoring the dead, during which Malagasy people exhume their dear ones, wrap them in fresh cloth and dance with them before putting them back into grave.

According to local beliefs, a person passes into another world only after his body completely decomposes, and until that time he needs to communicate with family and friends from time to time.

 

[angelburst29]

I suspect this Plague outbreak in Madagascar may be part of "a vaccine testing ground" by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation? Checking out back articles of previous out breaks in the region, there seems to be an uptick in HIV and TB cases and now, Plagues - since the Gates Foundation issued it's first Grant back in 1999. Under the Grant, organizations such as WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, the “Commune urbaine d’Antananarivo”, the Red Cross and recently, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) have been part of the program.

From what I can gather, the Red Cross comes in and sets up treatment center's, while the WHO basically organizes and oversees the operation?

Although articles on the Plague tend to focus on the spread of the disease, no restrictions in travel or quarantines have been issued. It's also interesting, that Bill Gates (a multi-Billionaire) and his family often visit Madagascar and the surrounding areas? It's stated, Gates generally visits a nature reserve,
Anjajavy, only assessable by air - to visit " botanists"? I would imagine, that's where the labs for the Pasteur Institute are located? Not sure where MSF fits in?

Plague – Madagascar 21 November 2014
http://www.who.int/csr/don/21-november-2014-plague/en/

On 4 November 2014, WHO was notified by the Ministry of Health of Madagascar of an outbreak of plague. The first case, a male from Soamahatamana village in the district of Tsiroanomandidy, was identified on 31 August. The patient died on 3 September.

As of 16 November, a total of 119 cases of plague have been confirmed, including 40 deaths. Only 2% of reported cases are of the pneumonic form.

Cases have been reported in 16 districts of seven regions. Antananarivo, the capital and largest city in Madagascar, has also been affected with 2 recorded cases of plague, including 1 death. There is now a risk of a rapid spread of the disease due to the city’s high population density and the weakness of the healthcare system. The situation is further complicated by the high level of resistance to deltamethrin (an insecticide used to control fleas) that has been observed in the country.

Public health response - The national task force has been activated to manage the outbreak. With support from partners – including WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, the “Commune urbaine d’Antananarivo” and the Red Cross – the government of Madagascar has put in place effective strategies to control the outbreak. Thanks to financial assistance from the the African Development Bank, a 200,000 US dollars response project has been developed. WHO is providing technical expertise and human resources support. Measures for the control and prevention of plague are being thoroughly implemented in the affected districts. Personal protective equipment, insecticides, spray materials and antibiotics have been made available in those areas.

WHO recommendations - WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available. In urban areas, such as Antananarivo, the surveillance of epidemic risk indicators is highly recommended for the implementation of preventive vector control activities.

BILL GATES IN MADAGASCAR Friday, 5 December 2014
http://madagascar-lulu-tours.blogspot.com/2014/12/bill-gates-in-madagascar.html

Many famous people have already come to Madagascar, for private tours may be, or for other reason, but for sure, they must have made a little safari before leaving the island. That what happened in November (2014).

The news come go fast as thunder in the famous town of Fort-dauphin in the afternoon of 21 November. The private jet of the well-known business man Bill Gates landed at the airport. The billionaire was with members of his family in this jet. Nobody could believe it in the capital of Madagascar.
It seems so incredible that the Microsoft giant, one of the richest and most influential man in the world would ever set foot in Madagascar.

Actually, he was really in Fort-dauphin, even though just for a while. The famous Bill Gates planned to visit Berenty, a site located at 86 km west of Fort-dauphin. It is natural reserve that covers 250 ha in order to discover fauna and flora typical of southern Madagascar.

On the road leading to the reserve, a discovery trail to enjoy the scenery and lush vegetation of Anosy are offered to the Gates family.

After admiring the river Mandrare and lemurs in Berenty, Bill Gates and his entourage did not stay in the area. They then flew to join another tourist site, one of the most beautiful areas of the country: Anjajavy. Away from prying eyes, Bill Gates and his family have therefore used the idyllic landscape of the peninsula Anjajavy. Located 120km north of Mahajanga, this unique site in the world is only accessible by air. This site is the botanists’ favorite and these botanists are from the 4 corners of the world, just because there are 1,800 plant species protected in a nature reserve of 450ha in this site.

November is the most favorable months to see wildlife, including the Sifaka and birds on the peninsula, and this visit seemed to be planned by Bill Gates in order to discover Madagascar in its most beautiful state.

Current Bill Gates Foundation news letter. In Africa, the Foundation is involved in water infrastructure, food production and environment concerns. The Foundation is heavily invested in the health system, offering large Grants for immunization, testing and scheduling vaccine clinics.

Updates on the Foundations activities:

Gates Foundation
https://twitter.com/gatesfoundation

Areas where the Foundation is active:

Focus Countries
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Where-We-Work/Africa-Office/Focus-Countries

The Gates Foundation supports programs that reach 45 countries across the continent, and from our offices in Africa, we focus efforts in the 10 countries where we believe we can have the greatest impact. Our aim is to help leaders and local institutions chart their own path to reduce poverty and improve health.

Elsewhere in Africa - We also focus our efforts on partnering with local government and NGOs in several other African countries to advance healthcare, improve agricultural production, strengthen financial services for the poor, and improve maternal and child health. These countries include Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Addressing South Africa's Greatest Needs - South Africa is a country with global influence that has both significant challenges, including high rates of HIV and TB, and critical assets, such as a world-renowned scientific and research community. Since making our first grants here in 1999, we have been committed to addressing these issues and investing in its promising future.

We are working with South Africa to apply its clout, research, and solutions to address its greatest needs. Our current investments to more than 100 organizations are focused on four main goals:

1. Discover and develop new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for HIV and TB. Although South Africa comprises less than 1 percent of the global population, it contributes to 18 percent of the world’s HIV infections and HIV-related deaths, as well as 6 percent of the world’s TB infections and 2.5 percent of global TB-related deaths.

2. Support the effective delivery of proven HIV prevention and treatment plans, as well as TB operations and implementation research.

3. Collaborate with the South African government on shared goals for global health and development.

4. Support limited research, provide technical assistance and program support for other priorities including family health, agriculture, water sanitation, and hygiene.

Fort Dauphin, Madagascar
https://www.audleytravel.com/madagascar/places-to-go/southern-tip-of-madagascar/fort-dauphin

Settled first by the Portuguese and later by the French, Fort Dauphin has an idyllic location on a peninsula jutting out into the Indian Ocean.

Fort Dauphin's French influence

Today the fort itself is a crumbling ruin, but the French presence is still strong and much of the town is owned by the de Heaulme family. A busy port (in spite of the shipwrecks rusting in Baie de Galions), Fort Dauphin is not particularly beautiful. The natural setting of the town is stunning however, with beaches on three sides and the dark slopes of Pic Loius looming above.

There are a few good hotels in Fort Dauphin and some excellent restaurants, particularly for lovers of seafood.

And a recent article:

Plague outbreak leaves 57 dead, more than 680 infected in Madagascar Mon October 16, 2017
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/16/health/madagascar-pneumonic-bubonic-plague-outbreak-continues/index.html

The plague outbreak in Madagascar is continuing to spread at unprecedented rates, with 57 deaths and more than 680 cases.

The latest figures are from October 12. An estimated 329 of these cases, and 25 deaths, were in the capital, Antananarivo.

The cases, reported by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) in Madagascar, include probable and suspected cases as well those that have been confirmed by laboratory tests.

While the country experiences regular outbreaks, with an estimated 400 cases of plague each year, this time things are very different, experts warn.

This year, health officials report the infections started much earlier than usual, and they're occurring in new areas, including urban settings. They've also seen an unexpected number of cases of pneumonic plague, which transmits more easily from person to person.

Of the 684 cases reported as of October 12, 474 were pneumonic plague, 156 bubonic and 1 septicemic plague. A further 54 were unspecified, according to WHO.

Of Madagascar's 114 districts, 35 have reported cases of plague, including at least 10 cities.

Plague is caused by infection with the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is typically spread through the bite of infected fleas, frequently carried by rats, causing bubonic plague. Symptoms include painful, swollen lymph nodes, called bubos, as well as fever, chills and coughing.

Pneumonic plague is more virulent or damaging and is an advanced form characterized by a severe lung infection. The infection can be transmitted from person to person via airborne droplets -- coughing or sneezing. The incubation period is short, and an infected person may die within 12 to 24 hours.

Both forms can be treated with antibiotics, making early detection a priority.

Occasionally there can be cases of septicemic plague, where the infection has spread to a person's bloodstream and can cause bleeding and necrosis of tissue, turning it black.

The government has mobilized resources to spray schools and other public places to fight fleas and rodents and curb the spread of infection. People have also been lining up at pharmacies in the capital -- some wearing face masks -- to get medications or protection.

To further reduce the spread of the disease, public schools are closed and the government has forbidden public gatherings, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).

International control effort - "The international community is taking this very seriously," said Daniel Bausch, director of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. Launched in 2016, this team consists of clinicians, scientists and academics deployed to tackle outbreaks of disease around the world within 48 hours.

An international response is being mustered to support the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health, with contributions from the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), the Institute Pasteur
and many others, said Bausch.

WHO delivered more than 1.2 million doses of antibiotics and released $1.5 million in emergency funds earlier this month.

The Red Cross has released more than $1 million to deploy a treatment center and has mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers and is upgrading their skills on community surveillance, finding and monitoring people who have been in contact with infected patients and insightful messaging to stop the spread of this disease.

The treatment center will "take the pressure off the hospitals and clinics so they can handle other issues," an IFRC spokesperson told CNN. "Pneumonic plague can be controlled, so it's really about scaling up treatment and community awareness." The size and location of the center is yet to be confirmed.

The IFRC further stressed the importance of getting local communities in Madagascar to understand the differences in this year's outbreak, as they are used to outbreaks of bubonic plague, spread by rats and fleas, rather than humans.

Why things escalated this year - Though the country is endemic for the plague, the surprising occurrence of cases in cities as well as them presenting earlier than usual meant health authorities weren't ready -- fueling a rapid spread of the disease, according to Dr. Charlotte Ndiaye, WHO representative in Madagascar.

Typically, outbreaks occur during the rainy season, between November and March. The rains drive the rodents out," said Bausch, which also explains why cases are usually the bubonic form.

But this year, cases began three months early, in August. The outbreak began after the death of a man in the central highlands of the country -- a plague-endemic area -- after which the Ministry of Public Health began investigating and tracing his contacts, according to the WHO.

In late September, a man from the Seychelles -- who was in Madagascar to take part in the Indian Ocean Club Championship basketball tournament -- died in a hospital from pneumonic plague. Health officials are urgently tracing individuals who had contact with the man and have started an investigation into the case.

'Low risk of international spread' - While experts predict the number of cases will rise in the coming weeks within Madagascar, there is only a moderate risk of spread within the region -- likely to be isolated cases -- and a low risk internationally, said Bausch.

Ndiaye agreed that "the risk of international spread is low, because generally, people with plague are too sick to travel."

She explained that WHO is working closely with Madagascar's airport authorities to ensure sanitary measures -- such as temperature checks and medical teams -- are in place at airports and ports to prevent the spread of infection outside the country. The group is also working closely with neighboring countries.

Travel and trade restrictions have not been advised.

It's "important to recognize that, unlike Ebola, plague is easily treated with antibiotics," said Bausch. "With very good outcomes, as long as detected and treated early."

 

[angelburst29]

An ongoing deadly plague epidemic on the island of Madagascar has reached a “crisis” point according to disease experts.

Deadly Plague at ‘Crisis Point’ in Madagascar - WHO 05.11.2017
https://sputniknews.com/africa/201711051058823746-deadly-plague-crisis-point-madagascar/

Two thirds of cases have been a result of the airborne pneumonic plague, a lethal strain, which spreads through coughing, sneezing or spitting.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned that the outbreak could reach mainland Africa, and has requested that nine African countries, including South Africa, Seychelles, La Reunion, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Comoros and Mauritius, make emergency preparations for a potential outbreak.

Paul Hunter, professor of health protection at the University of East Anglia, told the Daily Mail that "the big anxiety is that it could spread to mainland Africa."

"If we don't carry on doing stuff here, at one point something will happen and it will get out of hand control cause huge devastation all around the world," Hunter stated.

According to data, plague numbers have risen almost 40 percent in less than one week, and an estimated 1,800 people on the island now carry the disease, while 127 people have died of it.

The deadly epidemic could infect over 20,000 people in just a few weeks if the number increase continues at the same rate.

On Sunday, the World Bank released an additional $5 million to the local government to assist in curbing the epidemic. The money will be used on health personnel, disinfecting buildings and living spaces, and fuel for ambulances.

 

[angelburst29]

The Red Cross has uncovered several cases of fraud by officials during efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak that struck West Africa in 2014-2016, estimating losses of $6-million (5.2 million euros).

Red Cross admits $6-million fraud during Ebola crisis
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/red-cross-admits-dollar6-million-fraud-during-ebola-crisis/ar-AAurXQx

In a statement, the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it was "outraged", and said it would "ensure any staff involved are held to account."

The Ebola virus killed more than 11,300 people and infected an estimated 29,000, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The IFRC said the operations set up to contain the outbreak "were among the most complex in recent humanitarian history," with several groups moving quickly to deploy staff and mobilise volunteers, and spending tens of millions of dollars on medical equipment and other supplies.

In Sierra Leone, it said it had found evidence of "likely collusion" between former IFRC employees and a bank, leading to a potential loss of $2.1-million.

Overbilling and fake invoices by a provider of customs clearance services in Guinea cost the organisation $1.2 million, and two other investigations in the country are under way.

The IFRC also said it had previously found that in Liberia, inflated prices for relief items and payroll costs had cost it $2.7 million.

The organisation said it was "committed to holding all those involved in any form of fraud to account, and to reclaiming all misappropriated, diverted, or otherwise illegally taken funds."

It also said that since 2014 it has bolstered efforts to root out corruption in its operations, including cash spending limits in "high-risk settings" and deploying trained auditors when sending out teams.

 

[artofdream]

Hi,

Thanks for the different updates on this!

Since plague is endemic (or regularly found) in Madagascar, its "spread to non-endemic areas which were not used to handling plague cases, including densely populated cities," may have caused a more severe outbreak, according to Jasarevic. The unusual spread of pneumonic plague in this outbreak was due to one infected person who traveled to find care early in the outbreak, infecting people along the way. These individuals infected others, leading to several chains of transmission, added Nyka Alexander, a representative of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

...
Famadihana is a ritual ceremony of honoring the dead, during which Malagasy people exhume their dear ones, wrap them in fresh cloth and dance with them before putting them back into grave.

According to local beliefs, a person passes into another world only after his body completely decomposes, and until that time he needs to communicate with family and friends from time to time.

As emphasized above, plague is endemic in Madagascar and Famadihana is a tradition that has been happening since ages, thus it is indeed pretty dubious to blame the progression of the plague mainly on this criteria.

I was curious about references to any meteors in the local press these last months, but so far no luck: I doubt such observations are actually tracked there. I will keep an eye on it.

The epidemy seems to be reaching its end and most of the districts impacted (30 on 45) have declared the epidemy ended on their side (no new cases declared after 15 days).

As a side note, locals are pretty realistic and do not expect the financial help promised to be efficiently used to fight against the epidemy due to corruption. I hope though it will not end up "a la Haiti..."

I will follow up on my side what happens in the next weeks, after getting more news from family members still living there.
The Gates track seems also interesting, let's see if I can retrieve some feedbacks from locals:

I suspect this Plague outbreak in Madagascar may be part of "a vaccine testing ground" by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation? Checking out back articles of previous out breaks in the region, there seems to be an uptick in HIV and TB cases and now, Plagues - since the Gates Foundation issued it's first Grant back in 1999. Under the Grant, organizations such as WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, the “Commune urbaine d’Antananarivo”, the Red Cross and recently, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) have been part of the program.

From what I can gather, the Red Cross comes in and sets up treatment center's, while the WHO basically organizes and oversees the operation?

Although articles on the Plague tend to focus on the spread of the disease, no restrictions in travel or quarantines have been issued. It's also interesting, that Bill Gates (a multi-Billionaire) and his family often visit Madagascar and the surrounding areas? It's stated, Gates generally visits a nature reserve,
Anjajavy, only assessable by air - to visit " botanists"? I would imagine, that's where the labs for the Pasteur Institute are located? Not sure where MSF fits in?

Plague – Madagascar 21 November 2014
http://www.who.int/csr/don/21-november-2014-plague/en/

On 4 November 2014, WHO was notified by the Ministry of Health of Madagascar of an outbreak of plague. The first case, a male from Soamahatamana village in the district of Tsiroanomandidy, was identified on 31 August. The patient died on 3 September.

As of 16 November, a total of 119 cases of plague have been confirmed, including 40 deaths. Only 2% of reported cases are of the pneumonic form.

Cases have been reported in 16 districts of seven regions. Antananarivo, the capital and largest city in Madagascar, has also been affected with 2 recorded cases of plague, including 1 death. There is now a risk of a rapid spread of the disease due to the city’s high population density and the weakness of the healthcare system. The situation is further complicated by the high level of resistance to deltamethrin (an insecticide used to control fleas) that has been observed in the country.

Public health response - The national task force has been activated to manage the outbreak. With support from partners – including WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, the “Commune urbaine d’Antananarivo” and the Red Cross – the government of Madagascar has put in place effective strategies to control the outbreak. Thanks to financial assistance from the the African Development Bank, a 200,000 US dollars response project has been developed. WHO is providing technical expertise and human resources support. Measures for the control and prevention of plague are being thoroughly implemented in the affected districts. Personal protective equipment, insecticides, spray materials and antibiotics have been made available in those areas.

WHO recommendations - WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available. In urban areas, such as Antananarivo, the surveillance of epidemic risk indicators is highly recommended for the implementation of preventive vector control activities.

BILL GATES IN MADAGASCAR Friday, 5 December 2014
http://madagascar-lulu-tours.blogspot.com/2014/12/bill-gates-in-madagascar.html

Many famous people have already come to Madagascar, for private tours may be, or for other reason, but for sure, they must have made a little safari before leaving the island. That what happened in November (2014).

The news come go fast as thunder in the famous town of Fort-dauphin in the afternoon of 21 November. The private jet of the well-known business man Bill Gates landed at the airport. The billionaire was with members of his family in this jet. Nobody could believe it in the capital of Madagascar.
It seems so incredible that the Microsoft giant, one of the richest and most influential man in the world would ever set foot in Madagascar.

Actually, he was really in Fort-dauphin, even though just for a while. The famous Bill Gates planned to visit Berenty, a site located at 86 km west of Fort-dauphin. It is natural reserve that covers 250 ha in order to discover fauna and flora typical of southern Madagascar.

On the road leading to the reserve, a discovery trail to enjoy the scenery and lush vegetation of Anosy are offered to the Gates family.

After admiring the river Mandrare and lemurs in Berenty, Bill Gates and his entourage did not stay in the area. They then flew to join another tourist site, one of the most beautiful areas of the country: Anjajavy. Away from prying eyes, Bill Gates and his family have therefore used the idyllic landscape of the peninsula Anjajavy. Located 120km north of Mahajanga, this unique site in the world is only accessible by air. This site is the botanists’ favorite and these botanists are from the 4 corners of the world, just because there are 1,800 plant species protected in a nature reserve of 450ha in this site.

November is the most favorable months to see wildlife, including the Sifaka and birds on the peninsula, and this visit seemed to be planned by Bill Gates in order to discover Madagascar in its most beautiful state.

Current Bill Gates Foundation news letter. In Africa, the Foundation is involved in water infrastructure, food production and environment concerns. The Foundation is heavily invested in the health system, offering large Grants for immunization, testing and scheduling vaccine clinics.

Updates on the Foundations activities:

Gates Foundation
https://twitter.com/gatesfoundation

Areas where the Foundation is active:

Focus Countries
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Where-We-Work/Africa-Office/Focus-Countries

The Gates Foundation supports programs that reach 45 countries across the continent, and from our offices in Africa, we focus efforts in the 10 countries where we believe we can have the greatest impact. Our aim is to help leaders and local institutions chart their own path to reduce poverty and improve health.

Elsewhere in Africa - We also focus our efforts on partnering with local government and NGOs in several other African countries to advance healthcare, improve agricultural production, strengthen financial services for the poor, and improve maternal and child health. These countries include Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Addressing South Africa's Greatest Needs - South Africa is a country with global influence that has both significant challenges, including high rates of HIV and TB, and critical assets, such as a world-renowned scientific and research community. Since making our first grants here in 1999, we have been committed to addressing these issues and investing in its promising future.

We are working with South Africa to apply its clout, research, and solutions to address its greatest needs. Our current investments to more than 100 organizations are focused on four main goals:

1. Discover and develop new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for HIV and TB. Although South Africa comprises less than 1 percent of the global population, it contributes to 18 percent of the world’s HIV infections and HIV-related deaths, as well as 6 percent of the world’s TB infections and 2.5 percent of global TB-related deaths.

2. Support the effective delivery of proven HIV prevention and treatment plans, as well as TB operations and implementation research.

3. Collaborate with the South African government on shared goals for global health and development.

4. Support limited research, provide technical assistance and program support for other priorities including family health, agriculture, water sanitation, and hygiene.

Will update if I get any interesting news.

#art