What is pneumonic plague and how does it spread?
The article explains pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection and the most virulent form of plague, in response to a worker's death at a Siberian lab and a WHO inquiry. It details symptoms, differentiates it from bubonic and septicaemic plague, and notes its global incidence, primarily in central Africa, with the bacterium persisting in animal reservoirs worldwide.
Why it matters
Understanding pneumonic plague is crucial for public health, especially given its high virulence and the recent incident in Russia, which highlights the ongoing risk of infectious diseases and the importance of global health surveillance and control measures.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Pneumonic plague is often described as the most virulent form of plague
Health correspondent Published 38 minutes ago The World Health Organization has asked Russia for more information on the death of a worker at a Siberian plague research laboratory.
It is still not clear exactly what led to the worker falling ill, but media reports have led to a flurry of speculation.
Russian officials are still investigating the cause of the death, but they say those who came into contact with the researcher all tested negative for pneumonic plague.
So what is pneumonic plague, and how dangerous is it?
Pneumonic plague is a really serious lung infection, often described as the most virulent form of plague.
There are two other types of plague: bubonic, which affects the lymph nodes; and septicaemic, which affects the blood.
Also covering this story
11 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Russia hospitalizes almost 200 people after researcher's death from plague: Reports - CNBC
Plague outbreak in Russia? Hundreds quarantined after death of lab researcher
Scoop: White House monitors suspected plague outbreak in Russia - Axios
Woman dies of plague in Siberia: regional official
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Did a Russian lab worker die from pneumonic plague? What we know - and don't know
Russian Researcher Dies Of Plague, Hundreds Quarantined, 5 Hospitals Shut
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