Andy Burnham to monitor Russia’s suspected pneumonic plague case ‘closely’

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has sought further information following reports that a laboratory worker died from suspected pneumonic plague in Russia.

The agency said the risk to people in the UK from plague is very low.

Andy Burnham said he will “monitor the situation closely”.

The Prime Minister said he did not want to “alarm” the public, as he pledged to do what he can to ensure “the right steps are being taken”.

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

Russian authorities said a hospital has been quarantined and they are monitoring contacts of an employee from a plague research institute in Siberia who contracted pneumonia from an “unknown” cause.

No evidence that her illness was caused by any of the pathogens she worked with has been found, the authorities added. However, media reports have suggested the woman may have died of pneumonic plague.

She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia And The Far East in Irkutsk, south-eastern Siberia.

A second case has also been reported, but Russia’s public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has rejected suggestions the woman spread the infection to another person.

Asked about the reports during a visit to Berlin, Mr Burnham told reporters: “Obviously, we take the greatest of care in relation to any issue that relates to our biosecurity, and at this point in time, while we would monitor the situation closely, I wouldn’t want to say anything further.

“We certainly wouldn’t want to alarm people.

“We will do what we can to request that the right steps are being taken, and that’s the approach we’ll take.”

Plague is a disease usually found in small mammals and their fleas.

It is no longer found in the UK but occurs in several countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

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

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

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