31 mins ago - Health

U.S. tracking Siberia travelers after suspected plague case

Herb Scribner

A masked security worker stands in the doorway of an infectious diseases hospital in Shelekhov, Russia. — A security worker stands at an infectious diseases hospital in Shelekhov, Russia, on Oct. 7, days after an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute died of pneumonia of unknown origin. Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. is coordinating across federal agencies to monitor travelers arriving from Siberia as a pneumonic plague case draws international concern, CDC director Erica Schwartz said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Pneumonic plague can spread from person to person and is the deadliest version of the disease, with a near 100% fatality rate if left untreated.

Russia says its epidemiological situation remains stable and there is no risk of an epidemic breaking out in Siberia.

What they're saying: "We are working with Department of Homeland Security, working Department of State, Department of War, and other agencies within the government to make sure that we know exactly if anyone from that area comes into the United States," Schwartz said at a Wall Street Journal event Wednesday.

She said the U.S. sees about 200 flights from Siberia every year, most arriving at JFK Airport in New York City.
"We have a port health station set up in JFK so that we can do appropriate surveillance and screening if anyone from that area comes into the United States," Schwartz said.
"We're very well positioned to make sure that we are protected from a potential threat like that," she said.

Threat level: "We are very confident that the threat to the United States is extremely low," Schwartz said.

Catch up quick: Concerns about the suspected plague case arose after a lab worker at the Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia died after reportedly being exposed to plague bacteria.

The death has sparked worldwide concern about a potential plague outbreak, with the White House, China and Europe monitoring the situation.

The CDC said Tuesday that it is "working across the U.S. government to assess developments as additional information becomes available."

"At this time, there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States, but CDC and our interagency partners are prepared and will continue to monitor the situation closely."

The bottom line: Though pneumonic plague is deadly, it is highly treatable if patients receive treatment within 24 hours of symptom onset.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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U.S. tracking Siberia travelers after suspected plague case

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