German Plague Experts Assess Real Danger After Siberia Lab Death

Following a laboratory worker's death in Siberia, German experts assess the actual plague risk and what history teaches. The incident has caused global concern, but experts emphasize the disease is now treatable. The 28-year-old died of pneumonia of unknown origin at a plague control institute in Irkutsk, prompting international attention. Experts note the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis has existed for millennia, with the "Black Death" of 1346-1353 killing a third to half of Europe's population. Plague remains present in rodent populations but is effectively treatable with antibiotics today. Historical lessons include the importance of quarantine and the dangers of scapegoating minorities during epidemics, as seen in 14th-century pogroms.