US Monitoring Reports of Russia Pneumonic Plague Death
Recent reports indicate a case of pneumonic plague in Russia, which has drawn attention from health officials. The situation is being closely observed by US authorities as concerns about potential spread arise.
Plague, a historically devastating disease, brings to mind the horror of the Black Death, which claimed over 100 million lives in the 14th century—long before antibiotics were available. It’s hard not to compare that with the toll of the Spanish flu in 1918, which also resulted in millions of deaths, or the over 15 million lives lost to COVID-19. These outbreaks have always stirred deep fears across the globe.
Fast forward to six years post-COVID, and we find ourselves facing another disturbing situation. A laboratory worker named Darya Shipilova developed pneumonia of unknown origin and died, prompting quarantine measures and elevated health precautions in her region. This lab in Siberia is known for studying dangerous pathogens, including the plague. Interestingly, Russian authorities have stated their tests found no connection between her illness and the pathogens she might have studied.
Once again, like during the onset of COVID, there seem to be more questions than answers. Could this be pneumonic plague? The Russians say no. Is there a chance it’s been bioengineered to resist antibiotics or transmit more easily? Again, denied. Health officials claim patients have been isolated and hospitals shut down out of caution, yet one wonders if the reality is more severe, perhaps akin to the early COVID lockdowns in Wuhan. Despite Russia announcing a reduction in precautionary measures, the rationale for the initial response remains unclear.
Mystery Surrounds Death at Russian Plague Lab
These uncertainties inevitably echo memories of the COVID pandemic and highlight the ongoing deficiencies in a global health surveillance system that is meant to protect us. Statements from the WHO, particularly those from Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, don’t seem to offer much reassurance.
US and WHO Request Further Information from Russia
The challenges posed by both ancient and modern diseases, as I reflect in my upcoming book titled “The Angels Among Us,” involve reassurance and guidance, much like what Dr. Stephen Kornfeld did during a recent hantavirus scare on the MV Hondius.
Interestingly, concerns about unknown pathogens leading to a global pandemic were the impetus for a call for an international science network over two decades ago. Unfortunately, that effort fell short during COVID, especially given the WHO’s initial categorization of the outbreak as merely a regional issue in January 2020.
Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who was silenced after trying to raise alarms about COVID, has left a deep mark on public memory. So too have the many individuals who sadly lost their lives during those initial chaotic months.
Can Faith Aid Healing?
One story from my book involves Evie Rodriguez, who survived against the odds—not through medication, but through prayer. In an ICU, unresponsive to treatments, her faith and the spiritual support from her father played a crucial role in her recovery.
While the situation today, if indeed it pertains to plague, may not carry the same risk as before—given the availability of antibiotics and vaccines—the underlying fear persists. Laboratory incidents are not uncommon, and our preparedness for such events remains lacking. Even more unsettling is the fact that fear itself may be spreading more rapidly than any pathogen.
