Plague Outbreak in Russia — CDC Issues Update

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. 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 is also following the reports. “We are aware of reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia,” an official told NewsNation. “We are monitoring the situation closely with the CDC and our other interagency partners.”

The CDC stressed that the bacterial disease can be treated if it is caught early. “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,” the agency said.

“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 post continued.

The agency said it remains prepared as officials seek more information. “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.”