Plague risk in Europe low after Russia lab death

A suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia has raised concerns after a lab worker died in Irkutsk, though authorities have not confirmed the cause and experts say the risk of wider spread is low. Around 200 contacts of the deceased are under medical observation, and local hospitals were quarantined. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is monitoring the situation but reports no secondary cases, noting little travel between Irkutsk and Europe. Plague remains endemic in rodent populations across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with human cases occurring yearly. Pneumonic plague is treatable with antibiotics if caught early, and vaccination is only recommended for high-risk groups like lab personnel.