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Suspected Pneumonic Plague Case in Russia: What Experts and the CDC Say
A lab technician in Russia died of pneumonia that may have been plague. Experts and the CDC say the risk elsewhere is very low. Here is what was reported and what the CDC says about plague.
Original commentary from the Cancer Explained editorial team.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
A suspected plague case in Russia is in the news. Here is what has been reported and what the CDC says about plague. It is not a cancer story, so there is a short note at the end for readers in treatment, who are often told to be careful about infections.
What was reported
According to a TODAY report updated October 7, 2026, a 28-year-old lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Russia died from pneumonia of undetermined origin. Plague has not been confirmed as the cause.
The report says:
- Nearly 200 people who had contact with her are under medical observation, and at least one hospital where she was treated has been placed in quarantine.
- No plague cases have been reported in Irkutsk, and the regional health situation is described as "stable."
- Tests on contacts found two COVID-19 cases and two rhinovirus cases, and no plague bacteria.
We did not see official Russian test results or a statement from Russian health authorities, so the cause of death is still unknown.
What experts said
The TODAY report quotes three U.S. experts:
- Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said plague "cannot cause widespread outbreaks the way it once did because we have antibiotics." He called the risk outside Russia "very low."
- Dr. Susan Jones of the University of Minnesota said plague is "difficult to get unless you are in prolonged, direct, close contact with a sufferer."
- Dr. Ashish Jha, a former White House COVID response coordinator, said that if pneumonic plague is confirmed as an isolated case, "it will probably end there."
The report also says the CDC stated: "At this time, there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States."
What the CDC says about plague
Plague is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis. The CDC says people usually get it through the bite of an infected rodent flea or by handling an infected animal. It is "a rare but persistent cause of illness in rural areas in the western United States."
The form in this report is pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs. The CDC calls it the most serious form and the only form that can spread from person to person. It spreads when someone breathes in droplets coughed out by a person or animal with pneumonic plague. The CDC says this "typically requires direct and close contact," and that person-to-person spread has not been documented in the United States since 1924.
Symptoms, per the CDC, are fever, headache, weakness and a fast-developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain and cough, sometimes with bloody or watery mucus. The incubation period can be as short as one day.
The CDC says plague can be cured with antibiotics, but they must be given promptly to prevent serious illness or death. Its advice for anyone with these symptoms is to seek immediate medical attention.
A note for people in cancer treatment
None of the sources we opened says people with cancer face a higher risk from this event, and the CDC says there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States.
What does apply to people in treatment is the everyday rule about infection. Chemotherapy and some other treatments can lower the white blood cells that fight infection, so a fever can be serious. The CDC says a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during chemotherapy needs a call to the care team right away, even in the middle of the night. See fever during chemotherapy and avoiding infections during chemo.
Call 911 or go to an emergency room for trouble breathing, chest pain or confusion. If you are in treatment and have been in close contact with someone who is very ill, or you are worried about an exposure, call your care team and tell them. Do not wait for symptoms to get worse.
What to keep in mind
- One unconfirmed case is not an outbreak. Reports may change as test results come in.
- Headlines that mix "plague" with "outbreak" move faster than the facts. Our guide to spotting misinformation online lists questions to ask about a scary headline.
- This page will be updated if the cause is confirmed.
Sources
- TODAY, "Suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia": today.com (news report; expert quotes and the CDC statement come from it)
- CDC, "About Plague": cdc.gov
- CDC, "Signs and Symptoms of Plague": cdc.gov
- CDC, "Plague Causes and Transmission": cdc.gov
- National Cancer Institute, "Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment": cancer.gov
How this article was prepared
An AI-assisted editorial system helped prepare this page. It used a TODAY news report and CDC pages on plague. No named medical reviewer has reviewed it unless one is listed.
Cancer Explained is published by the National Cancer Information Foundation. It is not medical advice and does not suggest a test or treatment.
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Prevention, possible warning signs, screening, and diagnosis
This story relates to Infection risk and weak immune systems during cancer treatment. The information below is general: it does not reveal anything else about a public person’s health, and not every point applies to every cancer. Personal advice depends on age, symptoms, family history, exposures, and medical history.
Prevention and risk reduction
Not every cancer can be prevented. Avoiding tobacco, protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, limiting alcohol, staying active, and receiving recommended HPV or hepatitis B vaccination can lower the risk of certain cancers. A risk factor is not a prediction or a cause in one individual.
Symptoms and possible early signs
Possible signs vary and are often caused by conditions other than cancer. Changes worth discussing include a new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, a persistent cough, lasting bowel or bladder changes, a changing skin spot, or symptoms that persist or worsen. Some early cancers cause no symptoms.
Screening and early detection
Screening looks for certain cancers before symptoms begin. Recommended tests exist only for some cancers and depend on age and risk. Screening can have benefits and harms; it is not the same as evaluating a new symptom, and there is no single routine scan or blood test that reliably screens for every cancer.
How cancer is diagnosed
Diagnosis may involve a history and exam, imaging, laboratory tests, and often a biopsy. Pathology can identify the cancer type and may test biomarkers that guide treatment. Symptoms, screening results, tumor markers, or online stories alone cannot confirm cancer.
A public story may encourage questions, but it should not be used to estimate your risk or choose testing. Contact a healthcare professional about a persistent or concerning change. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.