Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old woman who recently worked at the plague control institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, lost her life following pneumonia with an "unknown" origin. This incident has raised concerns about the potential spread of pneumonic plague. However, experts generally believe that the likelihood of a global outbreak of the plague is very low.
Details of Daria Shipilova's Death
According to reports, Shipilova may have developed symptoms of the disease due to breaking a test tube containing plague bacteria or due to a field trip to the Buryatia region near Mongolia. Following this incident, nearly 200 individuals who had contact with her were placed in quarantine. Nevertheless, officials quickly took measures to alleviate concerns.
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Risk of Plague Outbreak and Reactions
According to available information, the bacterium responsible for the plague, "Yersinia pestis," is easily treatable and there are effective medications available today. Pirov Oliaro, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Oxford, emphasizes that two main antibiotics are effective for treating bubonic and pneumonic plague. Research findings indicate that in cases where the plague has turned into the pneumonic type, 85% of patients recover with prompt treatment.
Experts also point out that unlike the COVID-19 virus, pneumonic plague can only be transmitted after symptoms appear, which aids in the rapid identification and quarantine of new cases. Zania Stamataki, an associate professor of viral immunology at the University of Birmingham, states: "This is not one of those diseases that can remain hidden from our sight. Symptoms appear quickly and clearly."
History of the Plague and Current Conditions
The plague, known as the "Black Death" in the 14th century, killed over 25 million people in Europe. However, current conditions are quite different. Improvements in health and medical conditions in modern societies have significantly reduced the likelihood of plague outbreaks. Additionally, laboratory environments dealing with this bacterium are subject to strict regulations and advanced protective equipment is used.
Despite this, the plague still exists in some areas of the world. For example, in the United States, an average of seven cases of plague are reported annually. Therefore, despite concerns about the spread of pneumonic plague, experts believe that this disease is easily controllable and will not pose a threat to public health.
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