New York's John F Kennedy International Airport has increased surveillance and is monitoring passengers from Russia due to concerns over the pneumonic plague. This decision comes after a researcher in Russia died, reportedly from the disease.
What happened
A 28-year-old Russian lab researcher, Darya Shipilova, died after being infected with the pneumonic plague, according to local media reports. However, Russian authorities have disputed this, stating that she died from pneumonia of unknown origin. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set up a port health station at JFK Airport to screen travelers from Siberia.
The CDC Director, Erica Schwartz, announced the monitoring during a Wall Street Journal event, stating that the US is working with various agencies to ensure protection from potential threats. About 200 people from Siberia arrive in the US every year, mostly at JFK Airport. Direct flights between Russia and the US have been suspended since 2022, but several thousand Russians still arrive in the US annually.
Shipilova's death led to the quarantine of about 200 people and five hospitals, but these measures were ended after monitoring of her contacts concluded and no dangerous pathogens were found in nearly 5,000 samples tested. The US will continue to screen travelers from Siberia at JFK Airport as a precautionary measure.
