Ngulube T J, Mwanza K, Njobvu C A, Muula A S
Centre for Health, Science and Social Research (CHESSORE), The University of Zambia.
Trop Doct. 2006 Oct;36(4):223-5. doi: 10.1258/004947506778604779.
In 2001, two plague outbreaks were reported in Zambia, one of which occurred in Petauke, Eastern Province, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Of the community respondents, 43.4% did not know the aetiology of plague. Although rats and fleas were frequently mentioned, many respondents did not know how these were related to plague. Local belief that the plague outbreak was the result of witchcraft was prevalent. Use of rodenticides was not preferred as these were reports of they being used for poisoning people. The public health response was initially slow by both the community and also the formal health sector. Once the diagnosis of plague was made, fears of witchcraft dispelled and collaboration not only between the formal health sector and the community, but also between Zambian health workers and their Mozambican counterparts developed, and it was possible to control the outbreak.
2001年，赞比亚报告了两起鼠疫疫情，其中一起发生在东部省的佩陶凯，导致了高发病率和高死亡率。在社区受访者中，43.4%不知道鼠疫的病因。尽管经常提到老鼠和跳蚤，但许多受访者不知道它们与鼠疫有何关联。当地普遍认为鼠疫疫情是巫术所致。人们不倾向于使用灭鼠剂，因为有报道称这些灭鼠剂被用于毒害他人。社区和正规卫生部门最初的公共卫生应对行动都很迟缓。一旦确诊鼠疫，对巫术的恐惧消除了，正规卫生部门与社区之间、赞比亚卫生工作者与其莫桑比克同行之间不仅展开了合作，疫情也得以控制。
