Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Oct 5
US Monitors 1 Suspected Pneumonic Plague Death in Russia as Travel Ban Calls Grow
Updated
Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Oct 5
US Monitors 1 Suspected Pneumonic Plague Death in Russia as Travel Ban Calls Grow
3 articles · Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Oct 5
Summary
A 28-year-old lab worker in Irkutsk died after a suspected pneumonic plague exposure, and the White House, State Department and CDC are now tracking Russia’s response and possible US options.
About 200 contacts have been placed under observation or isolation after reports that Darya Shipilova broke a test tube containing plague bacteria on September 25 and died on October 2.
Russian authorities have not confirmed plague: Rospotrebnadzor called it pneumonia of unknown cause, said no work-related microorganisms were found and described conditions in Irkutsk and nearby Shelekhov as stable.
US officials have announced no new restrictions and noted there are no direct commercial flights between the United States and Russia, though some Republican figures are urging a broad halt to Russia-linked travel.
Pneumonic plague can spread through close-contact respiratory droplets but is usually treatable with common antibiotics when caught early, and there is no public evidence of wider transmission or a bioweapons link.