Russia plague: What do we know? | BBC News

This BBC News video looks at a plague scare in Siberia, Russia. Russian officials are investigating the death of a worker at a plague research laboratory, who they say died of pneumonia. Online speculation has suggested the death may have been caused by pneumonic plague, but Russian authorities deny this and say there is no risk of an outbreak. The video, featuring BBC health reporter Jim Reed in conversation with Tristan Redman of The Global Story, explains what is known about the case, why it has caused alarm, how the legacy of the Covid pandemic has shaped public fears, and whether the world is prepared for a potential outbreak.

• A worker at a plague research laboratory in Russia died; officials say the cause was pneumonia
• Online speculation about pneumonic plague has been denied by Russian authorities
• The video covers how the story spread and how the WHO has responded
• It also discusses plague types, the US withdrawal from the WHO, and preparedness after Covid

A plague scare in Siberia has become a Rorschach test for public health fears in a post-Covid world. Russian officials are investigating the death of a worker at a plague research laboratory. They say she died of pneumonia. But speculation online has suggested she may have died from pneumonic plague. Russian authorities deny this and say there is no risk of an outbreak. So why has the story sparked so much alarm? And how has the legacy of the Covid pandemic played into people's fears of another global health crisis? The BBC’s health reporter, Jim Reed, joins The Global Story’s Tristan Redman to explain what we know about the case in Russia – and whether the world is prepared for a potential outbreak. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #PneumonicPlague #Outbreak #GlobalStory #Russia #Covid #BBCNews 0:00 Why are people worried about a plague outbreak in Russia? 0:47 Introduction to Jim Reed, BBC Health Reporter 1:29 Where is this outbreak in Russia? 4:58 What have the Russian authorities said? 5:27 How has this been covered around the world? 7:52 How have the WHO reacted? 10:10 What is plague and the different types of plague? 13:19 What is the pneumonic plague? 14:58 How common is pneumonic plague? 17:23 What is Donald Trump saying about the outbreak? 19:00 How has the US's withdrawal from the WHO affected how the WHO are dealing with it? 20:49 The contrast between this outbreak and Ebola 23:23 Since Covid are we better equipped to deal with pandemics? Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #PneumonicPlague #Outbreak #GlobalStory #Russia #Covid #BBCNews Chapters: 0:00 Why are people worried about a plague outbreak in Russia? 0:47 Introduction to Jim Reed, BBC Health Reporter 1:29 Where is this outbreak in Russia? 4:58 What have the Russian authorities said? 5:27 How has this been covered around the world? 7:52 How have the WHO reacted? 10:10 What is plague and the different types of plague? 13:19 What is the pneumonic plague? 14:58 How common is pneumonic plague? 17:23 What is Donald Trump saying about the outbreak? 19:00 How has the US's withdrawal from the WHO affected how the WHO are dealing with it? 20:49 The contrast between this outbreak and Ebola 23:23 Since Covid are we better equipped to deal with pandemics?