Plague that’s killed scores is blamed on dances with corpses (madagascar)

New York Post ^ | 10-26-17 | Ruth Brown

[dynachrome]

The deadly plague sweeping Madagascar may have a particularly gruesome cause — a local tradition of dancing with dead bodies.

SEE ALSO Madagascar's plague outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate Madagascar's plague outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate Health officials suspect it’s no coincidence that the outbreak — which has infected more than 1,100 people and killed 124 since August — coincides with the time of year when families customarily exhume the remains of dead relatives, wrap them in a sheet, and dance with them through the streets in a sacred ritual, AFP reports.

“If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for [the ritual], the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body,” said Willy Randriamarotia, Madagascar’s health ministry chief of staff.

[mabarker1]

Send x42 and hitlary over there, it may be our only hope to rid Us of them.

[matthew fuller]

"people dig up their family corpses and then dance with them....?"

Only on the day before election day.

[hal ogen]

What an ignorant “culture”.

[matthew fuller]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Can_Dance

[GOPJ]

Dancing with rotted corpses? What could go wrong? Anyone?"

AND it's creepy...

[21twelve]

Hey - maybe a TV contest show in the making!? Although perhaps not do it in front of a live audience?

[Chode]

WTH is wrong wi these people...

[GregNH]

JUST THE START Madagascar plague outbreak set to last another SIX MONTHS as health officials warn Black Death pandemic could explode

[trisham]

Words fail me.

[17th Miss Regt]

Who do you suppose leads?

The dead person, of corpse!

[GregNH]

Sorry, missing link. JUST THE START Madagascar plague outbreak set to last another SIX MONTHS as health officials warn Black Death pandemic could explode