China Breaks Silence on Plague, Says It’s in Contact With Russia
Beijing made its first official comments on the suspected case of pneumonic plague in Siberia, saying it’s cooperating with Russia as health concerns intensify around the world.
China has made its first official statement on a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Siberia, confirming that it is in close contact with Russia regarding the outbreak. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that both countries maintain "close communication and cooperation in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the plague."
The incident follows the death of a worker at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, Russia, who was later found to have pneumonic plague, leading to nearly 200 contacts being placed under medical observation. While the World Health Organization has assessed the risk of pneumonic plague spreading outside Russia as very low, the US remains concerned due to the potential implications, particularly given the worker's occupation at a plague research facility.
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