UKHSA issues UK plague risk update after Russian laboratory worker’s death

Health officials have reassured the public that the risk of plague in the UK remains extremely low, following reports that Russian authorities are investigating the death of a woman linked to the infection.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it is seeking further information on the case, but reassured the public over any potential spread.

Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital and are monitoring contacts of an employee from the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East in south-eastern Siberia, who contracted pneumonia from an unknown cause.

Officials state there is no evidence her illness was caused by pathogens she worked with, although media reports suggest she may have died of pneumonic plague.

Plague is typically found in small mammals and their fleas. While no longer present in the UK, it persists across regions in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

The disease is usually transmitted to humans from infected animals or fleas, but people can pass it on from coughing and sneezing.

Usually, this requires direct and close contact with the person with pneumonic plague.

If plague is untreated, it can cause rapid death, but antibiotics can be effective if the disease is caught in time.

Chris Lewis, director of global health protection at the UKHSA, said: “We are aware of media reports that emergency containment measures have been introduced in Russia’s Irkutsk region following the death of an employee at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute.

“We are seeking information through the International Health Regulations channels to further understand the circumstances and verify the accuracy of these reports.

“The public health risk from plague to the wider UK population currently remains very low.”

President Donald Trump has said the US is looking “very strongly” at the case.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia welcomed US President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to help following the worker’s death.

"It's always good when mutual assistance is offered," Peskov told reporters. He said the public health watchdog was handling the situation and would provide further information as it became available.