President Donald Trump stated that the US is looking "very strongly" at the case of a Russian lab technician who died at a plague research center in Siberia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington is monitoring the situation closely due to concerns about the potential spread of pneumonic plague, but emphasized that there is no cause for alarm.
Irkutsk's governor announced the cause of death as "pneumonia of undetermined etiology" and noted that "no micro-organisms" related to the woman's work were found in her biological samples. Reports suggest that the technician may have fallen ill after breaking a test tube containing the pathogen or after visiting a region where plague is endemic among wild rodents.
When asked about the risk of plague spreading from Russia, Trump mentioned that he had not discussed the matter with the Kremlin but expressed willingness to help. Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev reported that no other staff members from the plague institute had sought medical attention since the technician's death.
The Russian health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, conducted an inspection of the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East and found no emergency situation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised the public to rely on official statements from Rospotrebnadzor and not to listen to rumors.
Russian media reported that nearly 200 individuals who had contact with the deceased technician were under medical observation as a precaution. Rubio stated that while there is concern about internal spread, it is not currently a cause for alarm but warrants close monitoring.
The deceased woman, identified by Russian media as Daria and in her late twenties, had recently traveled to the Buryatia region near Mongolia. The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, which caused the Black Death in the 14th Century, is present among rodents in that area.
Dr. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, explained that pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal if untreated but can be treated with antibiotics. He noted that pneumonic plague can transmit between people, contributing to the concern. Clarke also addressed the public's fears regarding potential lockdowns, stating that such measures are not anticipated in this case. He acknowledged that while the plague is often thought to be a historical issue, it remains a health threat in certain regions. When asked about the potential for the pathogen to be studied for bio-weapon purposes, he stated that while it is possible, the more likely explanation is related to public health concerns.