The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reassured the public that the risk of plague spreading to the UK remains very low, following reports of a suspected case in Russia. However, there are several symptoms to look out for, including fever and chills, weakness and a cough among several others.
Suspected case in Russia
Authorities in Russia are investigating the death of an employee at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute in Siberia. The woman reportedly developed pneumonia from an unidentified cause before her death. A hospital has reportedly been quarantined and health officials are monitoring people who may have been in contact with her.
Russian authorities have said there is currently no evidence that the illness was caused by any of the pathogens the woman worked with. However, reports in Russian media have raised concerns that she may have died from pneumonic plague.
UKHSA response
The UKHSA said it was seeking further information about the case through international health channels while stressing that the risk to the wider UK population remains very low. Chris Lewis, director of global health protection at the UKHSA, said the agency was aware of reports that emergency containment measures had been introduced in Russia's Irkutsk region following the death.
He said: "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."
What is plague and its symptoms?
The plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is primarily found in small mammals and their fleas and continues to occur in parts of Africa, Asia and the Americas. People can become infected through contact with infected animals or fleas. Pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs, can also spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, generally following close and direct contact with an infected individual.
Although plague can become life-threatening very quickly if left untreated, antibiotics can be highly effective when treatment is started promptly. The symptoms can vary depending on the form of plague a person develops. There are three main types: bubonic, pneumonic and septicaemic plague.
Bubonic plague
The most common form of plague can cause sudden fever and chills, weakness and headache, painful swollen lymph nodes known as buboes, and swollen lymph nodes most commonly occurring in the groin, armpit or neck.
Pneumonic plague
Pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can develop rapidly. Symptoms can include fever and chills, weakness, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and bloody or watery sputum. Pneumonic plague is the form that can spread between people through respiratory droplets.
Septicaemic plague
Septicaemic plague occurs when the infection enters the bloodstream. Symptoms can include fever and chills, extreme weakness, abdominal pain, bleeding, shock, and tissue damage that can cause skin or tissue to become dark or black.
Symptoms can develop within several days of infection, although the timing can vary. Anyone who develops symptoms that could be consistent with plague following a relevant exposure should seek urgent medical attention and tell healthcare professionals about the possible exposure.
The UKHSA is continuing to seek information about the case as Russian authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's illness and death. US President Donald Trump has also said the US is looking "very strongly" at the case.
