WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government is seeking more information from Russia following the death of a 28-year-old researcher who worked at an anti-plague facility in Siberia.
Russia initially said the woman died from an unspecified disease before later saying she died from pneumonia. It remains unclear whether the worker contracted pneumonic plague or another infectious disease.
The State Department is preparing a formal complaint seeking additional details about what happened inside the facility.
The World Health Organization is also seeking more information from Russian authorities after reports that a second employee developed pneumonia from an undetermined cause. Russian authorities maintain that the first worker died from severe pneumonia, not plague.
Medical contributor Dr. Darien Sutton says pneumonic plague is caused by the same bacteria responsible for bubonic plague.
“If that bacteria travels to the lungs it then becomes pneumonic plague and the difference between these is not the bacteria, that’s the same, but the risk from transferring it from another person can really only happen with pneumonic plague as a respiratory infection,” Sutton said.
Sutton says quickly identifying and treating pneumonic plague is critical.
“The pneumonic plague has a fatality rate or the risk of death if it is not treated up to 100% in 24-48 hours; it causes a rapidly progressive pneumonia, fevers, chills, cough, and if it’s not treated quickly it can lead to death,” Sutton said.
Health officials say plague can be treated with antibiotics when caught early.
President Donald Trump says he has a call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation.
“I have a call scheduled. Very soon,” Trump said.
The State Department is reminding Americans not to travel to Russia, saying the U.S. government has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens there, particularly outside Moscow.
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no indication of a threat to the United States.
According to the CDC, about seven cases of plague are reported in the U.S. each year, with most occurring in rural areas of the Southwest, including Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.
