A mysterious death of a woman in Russia following a lab accident has stoked fears about plague spreading. But the odds of that actually happening remain very low, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying on X Tuesday afternoon that the circumstances of the case remain unconfirmed and that there is “no indication of a broader threat to the United States” at this time.
\n\n“We are working across the US government to assess developments as additional information becomes available,” the agency said. “CDC and our interagency partners are prepared and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
\n\nLast week, a young researcher died from severe pneumonia of “unknown” origin after reportedly breaking a test tube at her workplace, the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia. The hospital that treated her before her death was placed under quarantine, and her coworkers at the lab were isolated, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
\n\nChristian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the group has been in touch with Russian authorities. Based on currently available information, WHO says the public health risk to the general population is very low.
\n\n“I think that’s the…
Original source: https://www.wired.com/