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Cases have increased by 8% in just a week with nearly 2,000 people infected by the deadly airborne strain.

Some 143 people have now been killed by the “medieval disease” in Madagascar.

There are now warnings the plague could stretch across the sea and reach mainland Africa.

Such an outbreak would be catastrophic and there are fears the virus could go global.

Nine countries are now on high alert and have been told to brace for the plague.

The airborne pneumonic plague can be spread by coughing, sneezing and spitting.

It can kill in just 24 hours and is very different from the bubonic plague – which triggered the medieval outbreak known as the “black death”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the current outbreak has lasted for six months.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Emergency disease outbreak expert Professor Paul Hunter revealed fears the plague could reach Africa.

He told MailOnline: “The big anxiety is it could spread to mainland Africa, it's not probable, but certainly possible, that might then be difficult to control.

“If we don't carry on doing stuff here, at one point something will happen and it will get out of hand control cause huge devastation all around the world.”

Previously, another health expert Professor Jimmy Whitworth described the current outbreak as the "worst in 50 years or more".

There are already fears the outbreak could last for another five months as Madagascar enters the rainy season.

WHO experts revealed they “cannot rule out” the possibility of spikes in cases lasting until April 2018.

Locals have blamed the outbreak on villagers digging up their ancestors for a ritual known as Famadihana.

(Image: GETTY)

Christine South, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ emergency operations, previously revealed fears the plague could spread through planes.

She said: “With anything like this there is a possibility that somebody could be infected and get on a plane.

Yesterday, is emergency fatal fever Marburg has killed two in Uganda amid fears of an outbreak.