US monitoring suspected plague case in Russia, Rubio says

The United States is monitoring reports of a suspected plague infection at a Russian research facility but sees no immediate cause for alarm, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday.“We’re watching and monitoring it closely,” Rubio told reporters before departing for Iceland. “I don’t think it’s cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus and a cause to just keep an eye on it.

And we’re doing that.”The comments came after a female employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in southeastern Siberia died last week after developing pneumonia of unknown origin.Russian authorities have not confirmed that she had plague, and tests have so far found no microorganisms associated with her professional work.Russian authorities reject plague reportsRussia’s consumer and public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said extensive testing found no pathogens linked to the woman’s work at the institute and no evidence of an incident involving dangerous microorganisms there.Two people who had contact with her tested positive for a virus associated with the common cold, while two others tested positive for COVID-19, the agency said.The case nevertheless prompted precautionary measures after unconfirmed reports suggested the woman may have died from pneumonic plague, a rare and severe form of the disease that can spread between people through respiratory particles.A hospital in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk, was placed under quarantine, while people who had contact with the woman were put under medical observation.

Russian officials have urged the public to rely on official information rather than unverified reports.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also urged the public and media to follow statements from Rospotrebnadzor rather than “rumors or speculation.”Why pneumonic plague is drawing attentionPlague is caused by the bacteriumYersinia pestisand is usually associated with small mammals and their fleas.The World Health Organization says pneumonic plague is the least common but most virulent form and can spread from person to person through respiratory particles.The disease can be severe if untreated, but WHO says early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can save lives.The uncertainty surrounding the Siberian case has prompted heightened monitoring rather than confirmation of an outbreak.Rubio said the relatively limited travel between the US and Russia was another factor, while stressing that Washington was continuing to watch developments closely.For now, Russian health authorities say the epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region remains stable.