Plague in Siberia: What we know about treatments and transmission

The death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker at the plague control institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, on Friday has raised concerns, despite reassuring statements from Russian authorities and the World Health Organization. Russian officials say the woman died of pneumonia of undetermined cause, with no work-related microorganisms detected in her samples. The WHO stated the public health risk appears low, though the case has revived memories of China's lack of transparency during the early Covid-19 pandemic. The plague, which killed one in three Europeans in the 14th century, remains a disease that has not disappeared globally. Russian press reports over four days have fueled speculation, but no official conclusion has been reached on the cause of death.