MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has assessed the risk of the pneumonic plague to the country as very low as Russian authorities investigate the death of a laboratory worker in Irkutsk.
In a statement sent to The Manila Times on Thursday evening, the DOH said the worker died of pneumonia, but the specific cause remained under investigation.
“Russian authorities have said that it has not been confirmed as plague,” the department said.
The World Health Organization's initial assessment placed the risk as low for Russia as a whole and very low for the WHO European Region, according to the DOH.
The Bureau of Quarantine was implementing health screening at Philippine airports, the department said. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can test if needed while designated hospitals can isolate and treat suspected cases.
“No special precautions are needed at this time,” the DOH said, advising the public to continue frequent handwashing and cover coughs and sneezes.
The department said that it would continue monitoring the situation and share verified updates as they become available.
