The United States has urged its citizens to leave Russia amid concerns over a possible case of pneumonic plague in the Siberian region of Irkutsk.
The warning followed the death of an employee at an anti-plague research institute. Russian authorities have not confirmed that the woman died from plague and have described the illness as pneumonia of unknown origin.
The US Embassy in Moscow advised Americans in affected areas to follow local health authorities’ instructions, avoid facilities linked to the incident and seek medical treatment quickly if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms.
The embassy also warned that the US government has limited capacity to assist citizens in Russia, particularly outside Moscow. It advised Americans to arrange emergency departure plans that do not depend on government assistance.
Reports indicate that nearly 200 people who may have had contact with the deceased were placed under observation or hospitalized, while some medical facilities implemented quarantine measures.
The World Health Organization has said no confirmed plague cases have been reported in Irkutsk and has called for transparent information sharing.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have rejected claims of an active public health crisis and urged people to rely on official health updates rather than online speculation.
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