Suspected plague death sparks outbreak concerns. Should we be worried?

Suspected plague death sparks outbreak reservations. Should we be worried?

Key points

• Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, continued that residents should "remain calm" but still "be vigilant."
• Should Americans be concerned regarding their health and safety after a suspected plague death in Russia?
• "Damn it, COVID-19 round two here we come, " one person wrote on X.
• When we didn't have a vaccine or medication yet to combat it, that contrasts greatly with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• But experts say Americans probable don't need to worry concerning an outbreak hitting our shores.

Suspected plague death sparks outbreak reservations. Should we be worried? Sara Moniuszko USA TODAY. A suspected plague death in Russia. Should Americans be worried?

Should Americans be concerned regarding their health and safety after a suspected plague death in Russia? USA TODAY reporter Sara Moniuszko explains.

After a laboratory worker at a plague research institute in southeastern Russia fell ill and died, prompting authorities to quarantine dozens of individuals, worries around public health and another pandemic are growing on social media.

"We are still recovering from the trauma and lack of trust from COVID. Can we like, not?" another remarked.

"Another lockdown loading?" one user wondered. "Oh boy, here comes the masks again, " another wrote.

"The risk right now is negligibly low, and the chances of it to spread to our homeland is very less likely, " Dr. Rutul Dalal, an infectious disease physician at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, informed USA TODAY.

He continued that he understands the concern, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, but pointed out there are differences here – namely, a way to treat it.

"We have antibiotics for treatment and for prophylaxis, and if given within the first 24 hours of symptoms, has an excellent track record of having great results, " Dalal remarked. When we didn't have a vaccine or medication yet to combat it, that contrasts greatly with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, continued that residents should "remain calm" but still "be vigilant."

Since of the location and numerous details left unconfirmed, the situation is raising questions.

"We don't really have a window onto what was going on at this research institute. Why were they studying plague?" Marrazzo said, adding this is a "dangerous pathogen." "Whoever works with these agents in a laboratory should have plenty of layers of safety incorporated. You would have projected if this happened that the worker would have immediately secured prophylactic antibiotics. We have no information regarding so numerous significant things concerning this, I think it's something we just have to keep paying attention to and to be aware of." Response from US authorities: 'I don't think it's cause for alarm'.

U.S. And European authorities are tracking the situation, with a spokesperson for the State Department saying it was "aware of reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague" in Russia and monitoring developments alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We're watching and monitoring it closely. I don't think it's cause for alarm, " U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked to journalists on Oct. 5 before leaving for a trip to Europe.

Individuals who came in contact with the lab worker who died were quarantined and have not shown any signs of infection as of Oct. 5, according to Maxim Modin, mayor of the nearby town of Shelekhov. He remarked that the town's medical facilities have reopened for normal operations and are accepting patients.

"All individuals who came into contact with the woman have been identified, examined, and are under medical observation with daily laboratory tests, " he remarked in a social media post. What is the pneumonic plague?

Plague comes in three forms affecting different parts of the body. Pneumonic plague, an infection of the lungs, prompts the patient to cough out infectious airborne droplets. If identified rapidly, it can be treated with antibiotics. But if left untreated, it can be fatal in one to six days.

Since it can be transmitted person-to-person and cause severe epidemics, pneumonic plague is the most dangerous form of the illness.

Bubonic plague, another form of the disease that affects the lymphatic system, is infamous for killing tens of millions in Europe and Eurasia in the 14th century during a global pandemic known as the Black Death.

In modern times, the plague is a particularly rare illness that does occasionally infect residents in certain parts of the world, such as western United States and certain regions in Asia and Africa. Contributing: Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA TODAY; Reuters. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around suspected plague death sparks outbreak concerns. Should we be worried? Point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.