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A spike in cases lead to more than 200 people dying from the plague disease in 2017.

Epidemics of both the bubonic and pneumonic plague were brought under control in November last year after 2,000 recorded cases.

And the World Health Organisation has warned this year’s strain could be even worse.

But now the hot rainy season has returned to the country, cases of the plague are back.

Health ministry official Mantra Rakotoarivony said: “According to counts undertaken between August 1 and September 13, we recorded eight plague cases.

“Six of these recovered and two died in their villages.”

The two deaths were from a pneumonic plague case, and a bubonic plague.

The first death was recorded in the north of the island in Fiadanana.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY)

While the second death was reported in Ambalavao, by the Indian Ocean.

The pneumonic plague can be fatal within a day of becoming infected, while the bubonic form is less dangerous.

Dr Rakotoarivony labelled it the official start of the plague season on the island.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

The plague germ, Yersinia pestis, usually infects humans through rats and fleas.

The pneumonic form of the disease can also be transmitted between humans through cough droplets.

An expert told Daily Star Online the disease could even reach Britain if it moves to mainland Africa.