Plague panic grips Russia

Russia's authorities have sparked public panic over a suspected plague outbreak in Siberia. A woman who worked at an anti-plague institute in Irkutsk has reportedly died, and dozens have been quarantined. The authorities have not provided clear information about the incident, fueling rumors and speculation.

The US State Department is monitoring the situation and has urged Moscow to release accurate information. According to The Economic Times, a State Department official said Washington was aware of the reported death in Irkutsk Oblast and was working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies to verify the details.

The suspected case is believed to be pneumonic plague, which can be treated with standard antibiotics if treatment begins early, according to a State Department official. The US is also engaging with diplomatic counterparts and sharing information with allies and partners in the region.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Bell, The Economic Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.