Aftermath of 20-Something Researcher's Death Sparks Fear Over 'Biological Weapon' Speculation

Following the death of a researcher in their 20s from severe pneumonia at a plague research institute in Siberia, Russia, fear of the plague, widely regarded as the worst infectious disease in history, is spreading.

Nearly two weeks have passed since the researcher's death, but Russian authorities continue to maintain silence, classifying the cause of death as "unknown."

Along with the possibility that the researcher was infected with pneumonic plague by bacteria leaked from a broken test tube, additional suspicions have been raised that the institute may have been handling a variant plague strain intended for biological weapons.

If a variant plague strain was handled for military purposes, its high mortality rate and drug resistance could neutralize existing quarantine networks.

In connection with this, The New York Times mentioned the Soviet authorities' cover-up of an accident in the 1970s involving the leakage of anthrax spores from a secret Soviet military biological weapons facility.

Given the severity of the situation, the World Health Organization urged Russia to immediately disclose information.

While Russia has yet to release a clear stance despite this pressure, confirmed cases of the plague have also been breaking out consecutively in Madagascar.

Madagascar's health authorities stated on the 13th (local time) that "four confirmed cases and five suspected cases have been identified near the capital and other areas."

The authorities added, "We have administered preventive medication to 200 close contacts and launched flea eradication operations."

Madagascar is an area where the plague is endemic, transmitted by fleas and rodents, and carries a high risk of worsening into fatal pneumonic plague, which can spread via droplets if not treated promptly.

Experts noted that while the disease can be treated with antibiotics if detected early, the plague bacterium has not been eradicated from the earth, urging that global monitoring networks must continue to be strengthened.

South Korea's Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated, "The overall domestic risk level for the current situation is 'low,'" but added, "We plan to strengthen monitoring, focusing on inbound travelers with a history of visiting and staying in Russia who exhibit fevers and respiratory symptoms."

(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Graphics by Sumin Lee | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.