What they say: The Trump administration “is aware of this, is monitoring the outbreak and evaluating options,” the administration official said.
The backstory: On September 25, Daria Shipilova, 28, who worked at an anti-plague research institute in Russia’s Irkutsk region, broke a test tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen, according to local reports.
- Shipilova was admitted to hospital on September 29 with symptoms of severe pneumonia and died during the night between October 1 and 2.
- After her death, authorities imposed quarantines at several medical facilities in the region and placed nearly 200 people who came into contact with Shipilova under medical observation.
- Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said those monitored showed no signs of illness and tested negative.
Russian media reports suggested that Shipilova might have contracted pneumonic plague, but health authorities have not confirmed the diagnosis.
- Russia’s public health agency said Shipilova suffered from “pneumonia of unknown etiology” and further testing did not reveal any microorganisms linked to her work. The agency indicated that the epidemiological situation in the region remains stable.
Zoom out: Plague is a potentially fatal bacterial illness, but it can be cured with antibiotics when treated promptly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
White House spokesperson referred questions to the State Department, which did not respond to a request for comment.
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