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US Reaffirms Russia Travel Warning Amid Irkutsk Plague Concerns
The United States warned its citizens not to travel to Russia.
It also shared an alert about a possible case of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk.
The concern followed the death of researcher Daria Shipilova.
Reports said she had contact with a live bacterium during a work trip.
About 200 people who had contact with her were quarantined.
Authorities said those people had not shown symptoms so far.
The investigation was still underway.
The World Health Organization said the risk outside Russia was very low.
The US said it has limited ability to help its citizens in Russia, especially outside Moscow.
The US State Department issued a health alert over reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia’s Irkutsk region.
The department maintained its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing security concerns and risks of wrongful detention.
Researcher Daria Shipilova died on October 1 after reported contact with a live bacterium during a field trip.
About 200 people who had contact with Shipilova were quarantined; authorities said they had not developed symptoms at the time of the report.
The article says the World Health Organization assessed the risk outside Russia as “very low.”
- Who
- The US State Department, researcher Daria Shipilova, and people who had contact with her.
- What
- The United States issued a health alert about a suspected pneumonic plague case while keeping its Russia travel advisory at Level 4.
- Where
- The suspected case and reported quarantine measures were in Russia’s Irkutsk region.
- When
- The alert was issued Tuesday; Shipilova died on Thursday, October 1. The article does not specify the year for these dates.
- Why
- The alert followed reports of Shipilova’s death after reported contact with a live bacterium; the US also cited security concerns and risks of wrongful detention in its travel warning.
Caution
Risk assessment
Travel and public-health concerns
Caution
The US State Department urged Americans not to travel to Russia and advised US citizens there to depart, citing security concerns, wrongful-detention risks, and reports of a suspected plague case.
Risk assessment
The article says the World Health Organization assessed the risk outside Russia as “very low.”
Key facts
- US advisory
- Level 4: “Do Not Travel”; the article says it has been in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
- Health alert
- The State Department said it was tracking reports of suspected pneumonic plague and related quarantine measures and hospital closures in Irkutsk.
- Reported death
- Researcher Daria Shipilova died on Thursday, October 1, after reported contact with a live bacterium.
- Quarantine
- About 200 people who had contact with Shipilova were quarantined.
- Symptoms
- Authorities said quarantined contacts had not developed symptoms so far.
- WHO risk assessment
- The article reports that the World Health Organization described the risk outside Russia as “very low.”
- US assistance
- The State Department said the US government has limited ability to help American citizens in Russia, especially outside Moscow.
Quotes
US State Department
US government department responsible for the travel advisory and health alert
“The U.S. Embassy is aware of press reports from the Irkutsk region of suspected pneumonic plague resulting in the death of an individual and of associated quarantine measures in, and closures of, hospitals in Irkutsk.”
wionews.com
“US citizens planning travel to Russia are again strongly advised not to travel to Russia due to risk of wrongful detention and security concerns.”
wionews.com
Sources
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