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Daily Mail
By: Stephen Matthews

The deadly plague epidemic that has rocked the island of Madagascar could reach mainland Africa, a respected disease expert has warned.

The outbreak, which has been described the worst in 50 years' and has now reached "crisis" point, has prompted World Health Organization officials to place nine African countries on high alert.

South Africa, Seychelles, La Reunion, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Comoros and Mauritius have all been told to brace for potential cases in the coming weeks, reports Daily Mail.

Today Paul Hunter, professor of health protection at the world-renowned University of East Anglia, is the first expert to predict it could reach mainland Africa.
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Speaking to MailOnline exclusively, he said: "The big anxiety is that it could spread to mainland Africa, it's not probable, but certainly possible, that might then be difficult to control."

"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."

An analysis of plague cases by this website has revealed they have spiraled by nearly 40 per cent in less than week, with figures showing that at least 1,800 are now infected with the 'medieval disease' which has claimed 127 lives. The epidemic could strike a further 20,000 people in just a matter of weeks if current trends continue.

Earlier today, amid concerns the plague had reached crisis points, the World Bank released an extra $5 million (£3.8m) to control the deadly outbreak. The money will allow for the deployment of personnel to battle the outbreak in the affected regions, the disinfection of buildings and fuel for ambulances.

Two thirds of cases have been caused by the airborne pneumonic plague, which can be spread through coughing, sneezing or spitting and kill within 24 hours.

Professor Hunter's concerns echo that of dozens of leading scientists, many of whom have predicted the extent of this 'truly unprecedented' outbreak will continue to spiral as pneumonic is a more lethal strain than the one that traditionally strikes Madagascar.