MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health (DOH) is closely monitoring reports of a plague outbreak in Russia, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
In a press briefing in Singapore—where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to attend a working visit—Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DOH was following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and monitoring the developments of the outbreak.
“So rest assured, our fellow citizens, that the DOH is closely monitoring the situation and will take whatever further actions are necessary,” said Castro.
“So far, they are meeting the requirements to alleviate our fears regarding the plague occurring in Russia. It is a good thing, too—after all, people might have ended up blaming President Marcos Jr. for this Russian plague,” she added
On Oct. 2, a researcher in Siberia died from a "pneumonia of unknown etiology,” said Russian health officials. They have since placed nearly 200 close contacts under medical observation.
The WHO reported that none of those being monitored contracted the plague.
