The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested more information from Russia following the death of a worker at a Siberian plague research laboratory. The exact cause of the worker's illness remains unclear.
Russian officials are investigating the death. They have stated that individuals who came into contact with the researcher all tested negative for pneumonic plague.
Pneumonic plague is a severe lung infection, often described as the most virulent form of plague. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood. It can spread human-to-human through infected droplets, typically requiring close contact.
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, persists in animal reservoirs globally, leading to sporadic human cases. Experts emphasise the importance of surveillance, infection control, and antibiotic treatment for limiting its impact.
If diagnosed and treated quickly with antibiotics, plague responds well. However, if untreated, pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal, according to experts.