Pneumonic Plague Case in Russia Prompts Medical Advisories in India

Health authorities and doctors in India clarified that pneumonic plague is rare and advised against panic following reports of a fatal laboratory case in Siberia's Irkutsk region.

Dr Amit Saraf explained that pneumonic plague is a severe bacterial lung infection caused by Yersinia pestis that spreads through respiratory droplets during close contact and requires prompt antibiotic treatment.

Experts emphasized that the disease differs significantly from Covid-19 due to its bacterial origin, lower transmission efficiency, and responsiveness to antibiotics.