World Health Organization to send expert to study reported outbreak
Libyan officials reported a new outbreak of bubonic plague near the Egyptian border. They say that at least one person has died from the disease, and that several more have been infected in the town of Tubruq. In response to a request from Libya, the World Health Organization (WHO) will send an expert to study the suspected cases, a WHO spokewoman announced. The disease—which was known as the Black Death in medieval Europe—is spread to humans by flea bites; it can be treated with antibiotics, if diagnosed early. A small number of cases have also been reported in some Asian countries and in the U.S. in recent years.