Politics
NEW: CDC Issues Update On Plague Outbreak
The CDC is monitoring a suspected plague death at a Russian research institute after reports that nearly 200 people who had contact with a laboratory technician were placed under medical observation.
The woman worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia. Russian authorities have not confirmed plague as the cause of her death, and how she may have become infected remains unclear.
Russian health officials said Tuesday that no plague cases had been detected among her contacts, Reuters reported. The reported monitoring of nearly 200 people does not establish that they were exposed to plague.
U.S. officials are tracking the case, though the CDC said there is no indication of a broader threat to Americans.
“CDC is aware of and closely monitoring reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in the Irkutsk region of Russia that resulted in a death. We are working across the U.S. government to assess developments as additional information becomes available,” the agency wrote on X.
The State Department also said it was following the reports.
“We are aware of reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia,” an official with the State Department told NewsNation. “We are monitoring the situation closely with the CDC and our other interagency partners.”
The CDC emphasized the importance of catching and treating the bacterial disease quickly.
“While the circumstances of this reported case remain unconfirmed, plague is a serious bacterial disease that is treatable with antibiotics, particularly when recognized and treated early. Pneumonic plague can spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets during close contact, which is why rapid identification and treatment of infected individuals, and monitoring of potentially exposed individuals, are important public health measures.”
The agency said it remains prepared as officials seek more information about the suspected case.
“At this time, there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States, but CDC and our interagency partners are prepared and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the post continued.
