EU monitors suspected plague outbreak in Siberia

The European Commission is closely monitoring a suspected outbreak of pneumonic plague in Siberia and is ready to coordinate response measures among member states if necessary, a spokesperson said on Monday. The Commission is in contact with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and uses World Health Organization channels for updates from Russian authorities. It noted that countries are better prepared for pandemics after COVID-19 and have antibiotic stockpiles. The suspected case involves Daria Shipilova, a researcher who broke a plague pathogen vial on September 25 and died on October 2. Russian authorities quarantined medical facilities and monitored nearly 200 contacts, though the diagnosis was not confirmed.