Russian authorities and the World Health Organization are investigating the death of a laboratory technician at a plague research center in Irkutsk, Siberia. While official reports attributed the fatality to pneumonia, unconfirmed accounts suggest a potential exposure to the Yersinia pestis pathogen. Russian health officials have placed a hospital under quarantine and are monitoring individuals who had contact with the deceased. The WHO currently assesses the risk to the general public as low, though it continues to seek further data. Plague, historically known as the Black Death, is caused by bacteria found in small mammals and fleas. It manifests in bubonic, septicaemic, or the highly contagious pneumonic form. Although historically lethal, modern medical practices and antibiotics are typically effective in treating the disease if administered promptly.
Source : The Journal
Photo : The Journal
