MALAWI is now on high alert braced for the deadly plague sweeping across Madagascar which has killed 143 people.

Since the deadly outbreak in August more than 2,000 residents have been infected with the Black Death - which wiped out one third of Medieval Europe.

Red Cross officials work in Antananarivo, Madagascar, where the plague has struck Credit: AFP or licensors

Fears are growing the plague, which is airborne and spreading via coughing and sneezing, could spread to the mainland.

Malawi is the tenth African country warned it could be hit along with South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, La Réunion, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia and Comoros.

Dr Dan Namarika, principal secretary in Malawi's ministry of health, said they are working closely with Mozambique to prepare for an outbreak, reported Mail Online.

He said: "We have infection prevention materials ready and groups and teams ready to be activated if there is a trigger."

Madagascans have been told to stop the traditional practice of Famadihana - where locals dig up deceased relatives and dance with them before they are re-buried Credit: AFP or licensors

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged £3.8 million to fight the disease but fears it could take six months to control it.

Experts have described it as the worst outbreak in 50 years.

The WHO said earlier this week more than 70 per cent of Madagascar had been affected.

Sun Online previously revealed plague warnings have been issued for nine countries surrounding Madagascar.

Relatives dancing with the corpses of their loved ones are helping to spread the plague, officials have warned Credit: AFP or licensors

It is feared the ceremony has helped spread an outbreak of pneumonic plague that has left more than 143 dead on the African island Credit: AFP or licensors

Dr Ashok Chopra, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas, was the first to warn it could spread abroad.

Last week he told Sun Online: "If they are travelling shorter distances and they're still in the incubation period, and they have the pneumonic (form) then they could spread it to other places.

"We don't want to have a situation where the disease spreads so fast it sort of gets out of control.

"If the treatment is not given in a very short period of time these people will end up dying."

The country's health chief Willy Randriamarotia said: 'If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for a Famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body' Credit: AFP or licensors

One Madagascan said: 'I have participated in at least 15 Famadihana ceremonies and I've never caught the plague' Credit: AFP or licensors

Last week we also revealed how relatives dancing with the CORPSES of their infected loved ones are helping to spread the disease.

Madagascans have been told to stop the traditional practice of Famadihana - which sees locals dig up deceased relatives and dance with them before they are re-buried.

It emerged French tourist was removed from a luxury cruise liner for leading a passenger revolt after the captain cancelled three excursions in Madagascar to avoid an outbreak of plague.

Alain Jan, 53, who runs a restaurant on the Indian Ocean island of La Réunion, was taken off the Costa neoRiviera liner by police in the Seychelles after organising a petition and two demonstrations on the vessel.

Tourists have been warned to stay away from Madagascar after the outbreak of plague left more than 120 dead Credit: Getty - Contributor

Outbreak of Black Death plague kills 127 people in Madagascar with more than 1000 affected

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