US monitoring suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia, State Department official says
U.S. officials are tracking an unconfirmed report of a fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast while urging transparency from Moscow.
TL;DR
- The State Department is monitoring reports of a suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia.
- The U.S. is urging Moscow to share accurate information quickly as details remain unconfirmed.
- The U.S. is aware of reports of a death in Irkutsk Oblast, southeastern Siberia.
- The U.S. intelligence community is likely collecting all-source intelligence on the incident.
- Pneumonic plague can be treated with common antibiotics, especially if treatment begins early.
- The safety and security of U.S. citizens is the department's top priority.