The White House is monitoring a possible outbreak of the plague in Russia

The White House is monitoring reports of a suspected case of plague in the Irkutsk region of Russia. According to Axios, U.S. authorities are also monitoring the quarantine measures implemented in the region.

 

“The Trump administration is aware of the outbreak, is monitoring it, and is evaluating options,” a White House spokesperson told Axios.

Axios notes that the plague is a potentially life-threatening bacterial disease, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can be cured with antibiotics if treated promptly.

As a reminder, a plague outbreak has occurred in Russia, and there has already been one fatality.

In Russia, nearly 200 people have been hospitalized after coming into contact with a woman who died of pneumonic plague.

Prior to this, the death of a woman from the plague was confirmed in Buryatia.