A plague has broken out in Russia: the first victim has been reported
In Russia’s Irkutsk Region, 189 people were hospitalized following the death of a 28-year-old woman linked to an anti-plague institute. In total, authorities identified 197 people who may have come into contact with the deceased.
The woman was hospitalized in late September, and she died on the night of October 2 at the Shelekhov District Hospital. Local media report that the cause of death was the pulmonary form of the plague.
Of the 197 potential contacts, 189 were referred to medical facilities for observation and preventive care. 114 people are at one medical facility, 63 at another, and 12 more were referred to the Anti-Plague Institute. Eight contacts remained outside of hospitals.
Local authorities stated that no signs of the disease were detected in those hospitalized, and the results of laboratory tests were negative.
At the same time, Russian media are circulating several theories about how the woman may have become infected. These include a test tube containing the plague pathogen that allegedly broke while she was working, infection following a trip to Thailand, or infection during a business trip to Buryatia. There is currently no official confirmation of any of these versions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to statements by Russian leader Vladimir Putin claiming that Ukraine is allegedly losing its statehood and cannot exist independently. Zelenskyy stated that such remarks reveal how Putin views the goal of the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine, for its part, has repeatedly stated the need to end the war on terms that guarantee its sovereignty and security. In his response, Zelenskyy emphasized that Putin’s statements provide insight into the Russian leadership’s goals regarding Ukraine. The president made these remarks during the Helsinki Security Forum.
