Seven more people have died from bubonic plague in Petauke in Zambia's Eastern province, bringing the total death toll to 18, 'The Times of Zambia' reported on Thursday. The number of admissions at the local hospital has swelled to 44. Hospital administrator Jack Phiri said patients at the hospital were responding to treatment and that some would be discharged soon.
Central Board of Health Director-General Gavin Silwamba said that of those admitted, many were young children. He appealed to people in the affected areas to not touch dead rats with their bare hands, to block holes in their houses, to kill as many rats as possible, and then bury or burn them and seek medical attention quickly.
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