Possible case of pneumonic plague reported in Russia's Irkutsk region

In eastern Siberia's Irkutsk region, hospitals have started quarantine protocols after a suspected case of pneumonic plague, an infection of the lungs caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Russian authorities deny that the disease is present, but the development is being watched by health officials in the United States. Pneumonic plague can spread directly from person to person via cough-generated droplets and may also be transmitted from infected animals.

The World Health Organization labels it the most hazardous plague form, noting rapid progression and high mortality if untreated. Effective treatment requires immediate antibiotic therapy, often administered intravenously or orally, and close contacts may receive preventive antibiotics. Past isolated incidents have been recorded in the United States, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China.