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LDS church missionaries transferred from Madagascar due to ’emerging outbreak of plague’

Posted at 9:15 AM, Oct 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-19 14:19:43-04

SALT LAKE CITY - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it has temporarily transferred missionaries out of Madagascar.

According to church officials, the missionaries have been moved as a precaution because of an "emerging outbreak of plague."

No missionaries have contracted the plague at this time.

As a precaution, 69 missionaries are being relocated or reassigned.

Another 10 who are near the end of their mission service are returning home.

The LDS Church sent Fox 13 this statement:

Due to the emerging outbreak of plague in Madagascar, as a precautionary measure, the missionaries serving on the island of Madagascar are in the process of being transferred out of this area or temporarily reassigned to other missions. The missionaries from the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission who are serving on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion will remain. A total of 69 missionaries are being relocated or reassigned. An additional ten missionaries who are nearing the end of their mission service will return home.

Ensuring the health and safety of our missionaries is our top priority. In recent weeks measures have been taken to reduce risk to missionaries, including providing them with prescription medication to help prevent plague and asking them to remain in their apartments. There are no reports of illness among the missionaries. Families are being notified as the missionaries are temporarily reassigned. This is a very challenging situation for the missionaries, members and citizens of these countries, and we are taking every practical step to reduce risk and praying for their health and safety.