Russia plague fears grow as WHO demands answers over second worker with pneumonia

As some of you may know, just as the world had started to recover from the global effects of Covid-19, the universe has thrown another curveball our way, this time, apparently, in the shape and form of the bubonic plague, those of you that were left with some Post Pandemic Trauma or PPT after the last outbreak, may have developed a strange sense of humour as a coping mechanism in order to deal with the next one, or at least make light of it.

But don’t worry! We all know what they say: God only gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors, so pull up your pantaloons because we’re apparently doing this now. We have now been issued an update from the World Health Organization on the whole bubonic ordeal, so here’s what we know.

WHO wants answers from Russia

The first thing to clear up is that there has still been no confirmed plague outbreak in Russia according to Russian authorities. They have told the WHO that no ”recent” cases of plague have been reported in the Irkutsk region. But as they say here in Spain, “if you can hear the river, it’s because it’s carrying water.” Make of that what you wish, but I think it’s pretty clear what’s happening here. 

So let’s hold it there for a moment. Back when Covid ruled the world, didn’t Chinese authorities initially deny there was a laboratory in Wuhan conducting research involving coronaviruses, before questions over the origins of Covid and the possibility of a laboratory incident became a major international investigation? And didn’t that whole saga also involve a laboratory worker becoming ill? Call me cynical, but I’m currently giving the Russian authorities a suspicious side-eye.

Be honest, is it the Plague?

 WHO clearly has questions of its own. The organisation has asked Russia for more information about the laboratory tests carried out on the woman who died, as well as the people who came into contact with her. It also wants to know more about why the public health measures were introduced and what condition those contacts are now in.

But wait, there’s more. Another detail that has caught WHO’s attention is reports that a second employee has apparently developed pneumonia of an ‘undetermined cause’, just like I did last month. But I’m pretty sure my pneumonia was not the plague. The organisation has asked Russia to verify whether that report is accurate and has offered technical support relating to plague, laboratory safety and biosecurity. But it seems that Russia may be trying to push something under the rug here, or so I feel.

So far, So good or so they say

This is where things get a little less apocalyptic, thank heavens! Russia’s health watchdog says there is no risk of an epidemic, Should we believe them? while testing of people who had contact with the deceased worker has reportedly found no dangerous pathogens. Nearly 90 per cent of the approximately 200 people initially placed in quarantine have also been released. 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is keeping an eye on the situation too, but says there have been no reported secondary cases and no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. It also says pneumonic plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics available in the EU. 

No need to bring the plague mask out just yet

So, for anyone sitting in Spain wondering whether they should be panic-buying toilet paper and purchasing medieval plague masks with optional herbs and aromas, there is currently no evidence of an outbreak spreading anywhere. The slightly frustrating part is that WHO says it still does not have the full picture, meaning it cannot yet carry out a complete assessment of the potential public health risk.

Until Russia provides the additional, truthful, information requested, the exact cause of the worker’s illness remains unresolved.  For now, then, the dreaded plague apocalypse remains firmly in the “not confirmed” category. International health authorities are watching the situation, Russia says there is no epidemic risk, and WHO is waiting for rather more answers before deciding if we well and truly need to panic.