What is pneumonic plague and how dangerous is it?
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that U.S. officials are monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia after a woman died Friday with an "undetermined" cause at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East.
- Pneumonic plague, the deadliest form of the disease caused by Yersinia pestis, is rare but historically significant, having triggered global pandemics as the 14th-century "Black Death." Nearly 200 people who had contact with the woman remain under precautionary medical observation.
- Respiratory droplets typically travel only three to six feet, according to Dr. Dave Wagner of Northern Arizona University, and patients require treatment within 48 hours of showing symptoms to prevent fatal complications.
- Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's former Covid response coordinator, expressed concern about potential biological weapons programs in the laboratory. "We need to understand that now," Jha added, urging investigation into the facility's activities.
- In the U.S. Southwest, including Arizona and Colorado, the plague persists in rural regions where the bacteria naturally circulate among wild rodents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports about seven cases annually.
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370 Articles
'WHO says it is low risk...': UN urges caution in discussing possible Siberian plague outbreak
The United Nations on Tuesday (October 6) urged caution in discussing a possible plague outbreak in Siberia, saying the World Health Organization (WHO) was in contact with Russian authorities and was taking the lead within the UN system. "I think we need to ensure that the words used matter," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters when asked whether the WHO planned to declare a public health emergency. Dujarric said the WHO had contact…
AFTER the death of a worker in a Russian laboratory, the WHO is asking for information. The article explains what pneumonic plague is, how it spreads, what are the symptoms and treatment options for this dangerous infectious disease.
Did a young scientist die of lung plague in Siberia? WHO offers Russia help with the education.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the public health risk in Russia, where reports of plague cases and the death of a laboratory researcher have been raised, as low. To date, no confirmed cases have been identified, and the exact cause of death of the deceased researcher has not been officially confirmed. According to AFP, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier addressed the plague situation in the Irkutsk region of Russia during a b…
Tedros reported that WHO is still investigating the death of a worker at an anti-pest institute in Siberia.
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