US President Donald Trump said he would be talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon” regarding a suspected case of pneumonic plague believed to have been transmitted from a laboratory worker in Siberia. Trump said the US was in “very deep discussions” on the case and American officials had requested more information from Russia. The global response to the outbreak is different because the infected person was said to have been an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
What happened in Russia?
Another person, a 28-year-old who worked in the lab of the research institute, died after contracting severe pneumonia. Speculation that she might have been exposed to the bacteria led to precautionary measures against others who may have been in contact with her. Some 200 individuals were initially quarantined as a result, according to reports.
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Why is Trump speaking to Putin?
I will be having a call with Putin on the situation, Trump said. He had previously said the United States would be willing to help Russia if so needed. The US also requests more information: “We would like Russia to come out and be more transparent so the international community can make assessments and make the responsible calls,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been tracking the reports, and has evaluated the international public health risk as very low considering the current available information.
Is this another COVID-like situation?
This shouldn’t be the next COVID-19 pandemic. There appears to be ‘no evidence at present of a global or international ‘outbreak’ associated with this incident. ” Pneumonic plague is a bacterial disease, not a viral one like COVID-19, and is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. It can also spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes, which is why cases are investigated, and contacts must be isolated and treated.
Should Indians worry?
For people in India, at the moment there is no reason for the public to panic on the basis of the available information. The WHO classification of a very low international risk is positive, especially since a larger outbreak has not been confirmed. The scene is still being investigated, and reports from Russian authorities and international health bodies will confirm if this was an isolated event or one requiring more extensive measures.
