Updated October 14, 2026
It’s 2026, not 1426 — so why is plague in the news? Here’s what Jackson County residents need to know:
What happened?
A 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia died in early October after a severe lung infection. Russian media reported she may have contracted pneumonic plague from a broken test tube. Russian officials have since denied that plague was involved, telling the World Health Organization (WHO) that no case of plague was recorded in her or anyone else. Her death is officially listed as pneumonia of an unknown origin.
About 200 of her contacts were placed under medical observation, and Russian health officials say nearly 5,000 lab tests found no dangerous pathogens. On October 8, the regional governor announced that quarantine restrictions had been lifted. The cause of her death has not been publicly identified, and the CDC is closely monitoring the situation.
About Plague
Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium carried by rodents and their fleas. Pneumonic plague, which infects the lungs, is the rarest and most severe form. It is the only form that spreads between people, and that generally requires close, face-to-face contact with someone who is coughing. Symptoms usually begin 1 to 3 days after exposure, starting suddenly with fever, chills, headache, and weakness, then shortness of breath, chest pain, and a cough that may bring up bloody or watery mucus.
Without prompt treatment, pneumonic plague is usually fatal. Common antibiotics work well when started early. To protect yourself and your family, avoid contact with sick or dead wild rodents, use flea control on pets, and wear gloves when handling wildlife.
Risk to Eastern Jackson County
The risk to residents is very low. Plague has not been confirmed in the Russian case, no plague or other dangerous infections have been found among her contacts, and travel between the Irkutsk region and the U.S. is minimal. Even if plague were confirmed, the risk here would remain very low, because pneumonic plague requires close contact to spread and is treatable with antibiotics.
Plague does occur naturally in the U.S., but cases are rare and mostly happen in rural parts of the western U.S., especially New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. It is not typical in Missouri. You can learn more on the CDC’s plague page.
If you recently traveled to the Irkutsk region and develop a fever with cough or trouble breathing, call your healthcare provider or emergency room before you arrive and mention your travel. Jackson County Public Health is following CDC and WHO updates and will share new information if the situation changes.
