Siberia plague scare: What we know after quarantine

Dozens of people are in quarantine in Siberia following the death of a laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Irkutsk, with conflicting reports about the cause of her illness and the circumstances surrounding her exposure. Local authorities stated the 28-year-old died from pneumonia of unspecified origin, and extensive lab tests found no pathogens linked to her professional activity. Officials are implementing comprehensive anti-epidemic measures, with daily examinations for those who had contact with the deceased, though a hospital ward closure due to a suspected "especially dangerous infection" remains unconfirmed. Experts note pneumonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed quickly, unlike COVID-19. The US is closely monitoring the situation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a cause for "heightened attention" rather than alarm.