Federal agencies are tracking reports of a death in southeastern Siberia and urging Moscow to release accurate information quickly.
The U.S. State Department is monitoring reports of a suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia and urging Moscow to quickly provide accurate information, an official told Fox News.
The official said the U.S. is aware of reports of a death in Irkutsk Oblast, a region in southeastern Siberia. The State Department is tracking the situation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies. The official stressed that many details remain unconfirmed and called on Russian officials to share what they know.
Former CIA officer Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital that the U.S. intelligence community is likely gathering all-source intelligence on the matter. “I would also expect our embassy in Moscow to be engaging with their diplomatic counterparts at an official level because we might have people in Russia who might be at risk,” Hoffman warned. He added that Washington will speak with regional partners and allies to share information.
Pneumonic plague occurs naturally in many areas of the world, the State Department official said. Common antibiotics can treat the disease, especially when started early. According to the CDC, treatment should begin as soon as plague is suspected, and doctors can give oral or intravenous antimicrobials depending on how severe the illness is and other factors.
The official said the safety of U.S. citizens remains the department’s top priority. The State Department encouraged Americans traveling abroad to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, to get updates.
