Panic in Siberia after the death of a 28-year-old laboratory technician studying dangerous pathogens at a Siberian institute.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) admits that the risk of spread is very low in Europe, its spokesman Christian Lindmeier announces that he has requested information from the Kremlin about a possible case of pneumonic or pulmonary plague. A suspicion that keeps at least two hundred people – currently asymptomatic – under observation in several hospitals in the Irkutsk region.
Early diagnosis could be key to avoiding certain death
Health authorities explain that without early diagnosis and treatment, pneumonic or pulmonary plague is fatal. Of course, the WHO remembers that if treated within 24 hours after the appearance of symptoms, the recovery rate would be high.
Both the United States and the European Union – which are closely monitoring the situation – assure that they are willing to help Russia, manage this health crisis and investigate the origin. This Monday, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, showed his concern publicly and today the Kremlin spokesman responded: “To be honest, I did not hear President Trump say that he considers this an important problem for Russia, I don’t think he said that. Although, of course, I could be wrong,” admits Dmitri Peskov.
As for Germany’s accusations that Russia is waging a “shadow war,” Peskov says they “are unfounded” and “lack any real argument.” And he adds that Germany is artificially constructing an “enemy” to justify its military spending.
Health controls at airports and borders to protect against pneumonic plague
In the region, measures are beginning to be taken to prevent infections and the spread of pneumonic plague. For now, Russia has imposed exhaustive health controls at airports and borders, and countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have also done so.
