Madagascar

An outbreak of syphilis has prompted the government in Madagascar to declare a state of emergency in the southern town of Fort Dauphin. Ongoing tests suggest that about 17,000 people, or 30 percent of the region’s sexually active population, may have the sexually transmitted disease. An economic boom linked to local mining projects has attracted prostitutes and international mine workers. There are fears the condition could provide an entry route for HIV/AIDS. (BBC)