Unexplained pneumonia detected at Russian anti-plague institute

An employee of an anti-plague institute in Irkutsk, in Russia’s Siberian region, has been diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown origin, according to Russian authorities.

Citing Russia’s TASS news agency, the country’s consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said special precautionary measures were introduced after an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East fell ill, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

The employee was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown origin.” Following comprehensive examinations, authorities said samples taken from the patient showed no microorganisms linked to the employee’s professional activities.

“The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and in the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov remains stable,” Rospotrebnadzor said.

Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev said on October 2 that an emergency meeting of the regional sanitary and anti-epidemic commission had been convened following reports that a resident was suspected of having a “particularly dangerous infection.”

Some social media channels claimed the same day that an employee of the anti-plague institute had died from pneumonic plague. Russian authorities have not confirmed the claim.

Axios: White House monitoring suspected plague situation in Russia

The US administration is reportedly monitoring the situation in Irkutsk following the diagnosis of unexplained pneumonia in an employee of the anti-plague institute.

According to Axios, unnamed officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration said the government was monitoring the suspected plague situation in Russia and related quarantine measures and was assessing its options.

Axios reported that a White House spokesperson referred questions on the matter to the State Department, which had not yet responded to requests for comment.

The developments follow the October 2 emergency meeting announced by Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev after reports emerged of a suspected “particularly dangerous infection” in the region.

Social media channels subsequently claimed that an employee of the anti-plague institute had died from pneumonic plague, although the claim has not been officially confirmed.

Rospotrebnadzor said that special precautionary measures had been introduced after the employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown origin.”

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