What happened
A lab technician in Russia has died from pneumonic plague, a rare and severe form of the disease. The technician allegedly broke a test tube containing Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the plague. As a result, 200 people and five hospitals in Russia have been quarantined, including a children's hospital and a hospital for new mothers.
The White House is closely monitoring the situation, and three countries in Asia have already implemented restrictions. The pneumonic plague is almost always fatal if not treated within 24 hours of symptoms starting.
According to experts, the plague can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can also be spread through direct contact with infected animals. There are three forms of the plague: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. The bubonic plague is the most common form and is caused by flea bites, while the pneumonic plague is the most severe form and occurs when the bacteria spread to the lungs.
The World Health Organization reports that plague epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia, and South America, and that most human cases have been reported in Africa since the 1990s. In the US, there are typically seven cases of the plague reported each year, mostly in the bubonic form.
