{
  "id": 12684046,
  "title": "What to know about fears of pneumonic plague in Russia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/what-to-know-about-fears-of-pneumonic-plague-in-russia-12684046",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-07T18:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261008/what-to-know-about-fears-of-pneumonic-plague-in-russia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Russian pathologist's death in Siberia has sparked fears of pneumonic plague, an infectious disease less common than the bubonic plague. The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking more information from Russia regarding the cause of death of the 28-year-old woman, who worked at a plague research institute. Initial reports from the WHO suggest the possibility of pneumonic plague, but Russian authorities claim the woman died from a \"typical\" acute respiratory viral infection, with no recent plague cases detected. The hospital where the woman passed away has been placed under quarantine. This incident has brought back memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and reignited concerns about the potential for a similar outbreak of pneumonic plague.",
  "summary": "GENEVA — The death of a pathogen researcher in Siberia has raised concerns about the pneumonic plague, as Russian authorities provide little information publicly. The severe disease is less common than the better-known bubonic plague linked to the Black Death in the Middle Ages. Pneumonic plague spreads from person to person, causing a severe form of pneumonia, but recovery rates are high if it…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Russia's plague scare: What we know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/russias-plague-scare-what-we-know",
        "published": "2026-10-07T17:05:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "What to know about fears of pneumonic plague in Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/what-to-know-about-fears-of-pneumonic-plague-in-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-07T18:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}