BUBONIC plague in the far northern Ohangwena region of Namibia is spreading from village to village. Previously cases were only reported in Ohangwena’s Eenhana health district; now the disease is reported to have broken out in Ohangwena. Fears are also rife that it has reached the Oshana region, where a resident is alleged to have been admitted to hospital with bubonic plague. The worst-affected village in the Engela district is Oshatotwa. The official death toll is now four, but could well be higher. On Monday, North West Health Regional director Dr Naftali Hamata, confirmed “many people” have been admitted to Engela hospital with the symptoms of the disease. Bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium which can be transmitted to humans by flea bites. The fleas often live on rodents such as rats.