Researcher Dies with 'Plague Symptoms': Global Concern Over Suspected Pathogen Leak

[Anchor]

Recently in Russia, a researcher studying the plague bacterium, often referred to as the Black Death, has passed away. Pneumonic plague has been raised as a potential cause of death. While Russian authorities deny this, the possibility of a plague bacterium leak has put the entire world on high alert.

Reporting from Yu Deok-gi.

[Reporter]

The researcher affiliated with the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia was hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms on September 29.

The researcher died just three days after hospitalization.

On the same day, both the research institute where the deceased worked and the hospital where they were admitted were entirely shut down, and about 200 people, including medical staff, were quarantined.

Local internet media outlets raised suspicions that the deceased, who had been studying animal plague bacteria, broke a test tube containing the pathogen, while presuming pneumonic plague—which spreads via droplets between humans and has a high fatality rate—as the cause of death.

The head of a neighboring autonomous republic also mentioned the possibility that the researcher was infected with the plague bacterium, spreading fear.

Russian authorities stated that no plague-related microorganisms were detected in the deceased's body and denied the allegations of a broken test tube.

They reported that plague tests conducted on contacts came back positive for COVID-19 in some cases, while all others tested negative.

[Dmitry Peskov / Kremlin Spokesperson: People should not get carried away by rumors or speculations and should take official announcements from health authorities as a guide.]

However, the possibility of a plague leak has left the United States, the European Union, and the rest of the world on edge.

[Donald Trump / US President: We are watching this very closely. We will help (Russia) in the best way possible.]

While the plague has a high fatality rate, it can be treated with antibiotics, and transmission can be prevented with infection control measures.

[Glenn Wortmann / US Infectious Disease Specialist: There is no risk. It does not spread easily, and there are antibiotics to stop the spread.]

The World Health Organization stated that the public health risk from this incident is low, but it is in contact with Russian authorities to verify potential ripple effects and other details.

(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon, Design: Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.