[Anchor]

A researcher recently died in Russia while studying the plague bacterium, often known as the Black Death. The possibility of pneumonic plague has been raised as the cause of death. Although Russian authorities deny this, the possibility of a plague leak has put the world on edge.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the details.

[Reporter]

The researcher from a plague research institute in Irkutsk, Russia, was hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms on September 29.

The researcher died three days after hospitalization.

On the same day, the research institute where the deceased worked and the hospital where the researcher was admitted were completely shut down, and about 200 medical staff and others were quarantined.

Local internet media outlets raised suspicions that the researcher, who had been studying animal plague bacteria, broke a test tube containing the pathogen. They also suspected pneumonic plague, which is transmitted between humans via droplets and has a high fatality rate, as the cause of death.

Fear spread as the head of a nearby autonomous republic also mentioned the possibility that the researcher was infected with the plague bacterium.

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

They stated that plague tests conducted on contacts showed some tested positive for COVID-19, while the rest were all negative.

[Dmitry Peskov / Kremlin Spokesperson:
Do not get carried away by rumors or speculation, and you should be guided by the official announcements of health authorities.]

However, the world, including the United States and the EU, remains on high alert over the possibility of a plague leak.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President:
We're looking at it very closely. We'll help (Russia) in every way possible.]

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

[Glen Wortmann / U.S. Infectious Disease Specialist:
You are not at risk. It's not easily transmissible, and we have antibiotics to stop the spread.]

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

(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon, Design: Lee Ga-jin)