US State Department has sent official note to Russia over plague outbreak, - WSJ
The United States has issued a diplomatic note to Russia following the death of a staff member at a plague laboratory in Siberia. Washington is demanding further information about this incident.
This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, according to Censor.NET.
Russia’s diplomatic protest
US officials have stated that Russia has disclosed very few details regarding the death of the laboratory employee. According to Washington, this situation raises questions about potential infectious disease risks both for Russia itself and for other countries.
In a note, the US warned Russia that its refusal to disclose details of the laboratory assistant’s death breached its international obligations in the field of public health.
A spokesperson for the US State Department stated that the department had formally approached the Russian government and requested further information. Washington is maintaining official contacts with other countries around the world to exchange information on this case.
A diplomatic communication from the US is confidential in nature and is known as a ‘demarche’.
Under the 2005 International Health Regulations, countries are required to notify the World Health Organisation (WHO) within 24 hours of any events that could constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
In particular, it is necessary to provide the results of laboratory tests and details of the measures being taken to contain the threat. Moscow has provided the WHO with partial information, but has not yet answered key questions regarding this case, in particular as to exactly which tests were carried out.
The Plague in Russia
- In the Irkutsk Region of Russia, following the death of Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old employee of the anti-plague institute, a quarantine was imposed at the hospital in the town of Shelekhov, and around 200 people who may have come into contact with her were placed under medical observation.
- According to local media reports, the young woman broke a test tube containing the pathogen responsible for pneumonic plague. The Russian authorities have not officially confirmed the diagnosis of plague, referring to it as ‘pneumonia of unknown aetiology’, whilst repeat tests on those who had been in contact with her have so far failed to detect the pathogen.
- According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, plague is a potentially life-threatening bacterial disease, but it can be cured with prompt treatment with antibiotics.
- The White House had previously stated that it was monitoring the situation in Russia and assessing possible responses.
- Americans in Russia are being advised to leave immediately due to a suspected case of pneumonic plague.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes that Russia should provide more information about the death of a female employee at a plague research laboratory who died last week.
- Donald Trump announced a conversation with Putin regarding the plague.
