Russia Discovers Plague; Over 4,000 Dead from Ebola in Congo, U.S. Expresses Concern

On the afternoon of May 16, 2024, Putin (front left) attended a concert in Beijing commemorating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia (Soviet) diplomatic relations. His gaze was unfocused on the performance, appearing deep in thought. Putin's body also leaned slightly away from Xi Jinping (front right, second from the right).

[People News] Recently, a 28-year-old laboratory technician, Darya Chipilova, died of plague at the Irkutsk Research Institute for Plague Prevention and Control in Russia. She is believed to have contracted the infection after coming into contact with a broken test tube. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated yesterday (Monday) that the U.S. is "closely monitoring" the situation.

Multiple Russian media outlets report that authorities have stated the outbreak "has been brought under control." Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, mentioned on Monday that an analysis by a special expert committee indicated that the young woman's cause of death was "pneumonia of unknown origin." Since this announcement, no other employees at the plague prevention research institute where Chipilova worked have reported any health issues.

Plague is a severe infectious disease caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, which can lead to symptoms such as fever, severe septicemia, swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia, and bleeding tendencies. The mortality rate for bubonic plague ranges from 50% to 60%.

Historically, there have been four major pandemics of plague. The first occurred at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with an estimated death toll of about two-thirds of the Han population; the second pandemic took place in the 6th century, affecting all European countries and resulting in nearly 25 million deaths; the third, known as the Black Death, occurred in the 14th century and killed 25 million people in Europe alone; the fourth pandemic spanned from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, resulting in 12 million deaths worldwide.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated to reporters, "If such an epidemic (plague) occurs, it could spread rapidly. Therefore, we are closely monitoring and observing the developments in Russia."

Experts emphasize that the key to preventing the plague is to avoid flea bites, direct contact with infected individuals, and touching infectious tissues. It is crucial to control rodent populations and exterminate fleas, as well as to avoid contact with and handling of their corpses.

Simultaneously, as reports of "unknown pneumonia" emerge from Russia, the death toll in the Congo has risen again. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on October 1, the Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus has spread to seven provinces, with a total of 8,300 confirmed cases and 4,018 deaths, marking the largest and deadliest outbreak in the country's history. Alarmingly, no effective vaccine or treatment has been identified so far.

Furthermore, concerning news about the epidemic has also surfaced from mainland China. Local morticians and health department officials have reported an increase in sudden deaths among young adults aged 20 to 40 during the National Day holiday, primarily due to thrombosis and cerebral infarction linked to the COVID-19 variant BA.3.2. This wave of the virus is intensifying, and it is estimated that the epidemic will persist until April next year, with potential fatalities reaching 20 million. △