Why a global outbreak of pneumonic plague is unlikely
Following the death of a lab technician in Siberia, experts are clarifying why a global outbreak of pneumonic plague is highly unlikely. While the bacterium is dangerous, modern medical protocols and the nature of its transmission make it easily contained compared to other infectious diseases.
Why it matters
Addressing public alarm regarding infectious diseases is crucial to preventing misinformation and unnecessary panic during health scares.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jasmin Fox-Skelly Getty Images (Credit: Getty Images) A Russian lab technician has died at a plague research centre in Siberia, but there are many reasons pneumonic plague is usually easily contained.
On Friday last week, a woman died from pneumonia of "undetermined" origin in Siberia after potentially being exposed to the plague. Russian media have reported that nearly 200 people were placed in isolation. Officials quickly shut down concern, but online speculation and alarm have been spreading.
The 28-year-old woman, named Darya Shipilova, worked at the Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region. Unconfirmed reports suggested the woman fell ill with pneumonia-like symptoms either after breaking a test tube containing the plague bacterium, or following a field trip to the Buryatia region on the border with Mongolia. In this area, plague is endemic among wild animals.
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17 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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