The plague in Madagascar

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.


(video in french, English subtitles available)