Uh, WHAT is going on in Russia?!
A worker at an anti-plague laboratory has died after developing pneumonia of undetermined origin, and nearly 200 people who reportedly had contact with her have been placed under medical observation. That is definitely enough to get people’s attention!
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According to information from Russian officials and media reports, the woman worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East. Regional Governor Igor Kobsev said testing found no microorganisms connected to her professional activities in her body, and officials say there have been no new illnesses among the laboratory’s other employees.
Kobsev said:
“The sanitary-epidemiological situation [in the area] is currently stable.”
Meanwhile, an inpatient facility where the worker was reportedly treated has been placed under quarantine. Russian media have reported that nearly 200 people who came into contact with her are being medically monitored. Russian outlets have identified the woman as 28 years old, FYI, although officials have not confirmed those details.
But regardless, now the international questions are getting louder! A US State Department spokesman said:
“Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly.”
The spokesman was referring to reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in the Irkutsk region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:
“[Despite there being] very limited travel between the US and Russia, if something like that gets out, it could quickly spread.”
Rubio added that the United States is “watching and monitoring it closely.” He said:
“I don’t think it’s cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus and a cause just to keep an eye on it.”
The World Health Organization says it is aware of reports that a lab worker died after severe pneumonia, but stressed that no official cause of death has been confirmed — and the plague is only suspected at this point, and not confirmed.
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In the interim, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russians should rely on official information from the internal investigative agency Rospotrebnadzor rather than rumors and speculation. Peskov said:
“It is their official statements that should be relied upon — rather than paying heed to various rumors, speculations, and the like. Rospotrebnadzor employs highly qualified professionals in this field, so let us heed their official statements.”
Meanwhile, former White House COVID response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha says more information and transparency are needed. Still, he noted that pneumonic plague can be difficult to transmit between people and said a larger outbreak or global pandemic is highly unlikely if this remains an isolated case.
Jha said:
“We may see a few more people get infected, but the chances that this becomes a larger outbreak, let alone a global pandemic, is exceedingly low. If there were weapons programs, biological weapons programs in these labs, that would be much more concerning to me. We need to understand that now.”
No kidding…
FYI, pneumonic plague is caused by the same bacteria responsible for bubonic plague and can spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person. Fast treatment with antibiotics is critical.
So, is this the beginning of something bigger??? Hopefully not.
But with one laboratory worker dead, a medical facility quarantined, and nearly 200 people being watched, it’s definitely a situation worth keeping a VERY close eye on.
[Image via WENN]
