The risk factors affecting persistence and spread of plague in the country were briefly reviewed. A unique gathering of factors involved in the disease re-emergence in other parts of the world is present in Madagascar. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar are the countries with the highest endemicity in the world. The disease was reported from at least 28 countries in the continent, among them eight countries are currently with active human foci. This review was carried out with the aim of evaluating the current situation of human plague in Africa. Plague is a zoonotic disease which has been responsible for a number of high-mortality epidemics throughout the recorded human history. We have concluded that plague is without a doubt a reemerging infectious disease. Plague can be used as a potential agent of bioterrorism. In a general context, it is important that governments know the dangerous impact that this disease may have and that the health and medical community be familiar with the epidemiology, symptoms, treatment, and control of plague, so an appropriated and timely response can be delivered should the worst case happen. It is important to remember that the danger of plague reoccurrence is not limited to the known natural foci, for example, those of Algeria, Angola, and Madagascar. If so, other Northern Africa countries with plague foci also may be at risk for outbreaks in the near future. The recent human plague outbreaks in Libya and Algeria suggest that climatic and other environmental changes in Northern Africa may be favourable for Y. During the last years outbreaks were reported from at least 3 geographical areas, in all cases after tens of years without reported cases. Plague, in the Middle Ages known as Black Death, continues to occur at permanent foci in many countries, in Africa, Asia, South America, and even the USA. Later, between November of 1973 and March of 1975 two outbreaks of bubonic plague were observed in Angola. In 1960/1961 the plague was reported in the Baixo Cubango (South of Angola). In October 1950 a plague outbreak was recorded in Baia Farta port (situated 30 km South of Benguela). In Catete the plague was again recorded in 1932/37. In December 1933 and January/April 1934 plague occurred in the areas of Bocoio (Bulo-Bulo hills) and Caimbambo in the Benguela district. However, others believed plague was already there, and that a sylvatic cycle with a reservoir in wild rodents was already present in Austral Africa before the XV century European arrival. It is widely believed that the causal agent (bacterium Yersinia pestis) was introduced by maritime way in Luanda from where it spread to other ports and to the mainland (Catete and Malanje). The first reference to the occurence of plague in An-gola was made in 1921.
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