Killer disease breaks out in Zambia

Suspected Bubonic plague has broken out in eastern Zambia’s Nyimba district and has so far killed three people, the Times of Zambia reported on Friday.

Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said the outbreak of the suspected plague has so far affected 13 people from a remote village of the district and claimed three lives.

Health workers have since been dispatched to the area to address the situation and prevent the disease from spreading further while blood samples have been collected from patients and sent to Lusaka, the country’s capital for confirmation of the disease, he added.

Bubonic plague is an infection of the lymph nodes caused by bacteria Yersinia pestis through fleas. Some common symptoms are chills, fever, general ill-feeling, headache, muscle pain and seizures, according to Times.