Video 1 min read

What if the plague had never disappeared?

Published the Updated By Sacha Tembe and Jeanne Fenouil

Every year, hundreds of cases of the plague are still reported, particularly in Madagascar. Antoine Brault, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, explains how his team tracks rats and fleas to anticipate the return of epidemics, using a novel mathematical model.
  • #Plague
  • #Rats
La peste à Madagascar

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© Script: Jeanne Fenouil and Sacha Tembe - Filmmaking: Jeanne Fenouil (video in french, english subtitles available translated by AI)

 

What if the plague had never disappeared?

Antoine Brault, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, explains how his team is tracking rats and fleas in Madagascar to understand why plague epidemics are still reappearing today.

Using a supercomputer, they have shown that from September onwards, the number of fleas explodes, increasing the risk of an epidemic—even when the rat population is declining.


Their conclusion: to limit the risks, action must be taken on both rats AND fleas.

This is the strength of the One Health approach: linking human, animal, and environmental health to better prevent epidemics.


This research is essential for understanding and anticipating infectious diseases.