Lithuania is considering restricting transit from Russia due to a potential plague threat. Health Minister Linas Kukuraitis stated that if reports of pneumonic plague in Russia are confirmed and pose a threat to Lithuania, the country may limit the transit of Russian citizens.
What happened
Reports emerged of a 28-year-old Russian woman, Darya Shipilova, who worked at a plague research institute in Russia's Irkutsk region, dying of pneumonic plague. Although Russian officials claim tests did not detect the disease, Lithuania and other European countries, as well as the US, are closely monitoring the situation.
The Lithuanian National Public Health Centre has stated that there is currently no increased risk of plague infection for people in Lithuania. However, Health Minister Kukuraitis emphasized that any measures to restrict transit would be coordinated with the European Union, which has established procedures for public health emergencies.
Pneumonic plague is a rare infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which can spread through respiratory droplets. It can be successfully treated with antibiotics if diagnosed promptly. Lithuania has established response procedures and sufficient reserves of medication in case of an outbreak.
