Following the death of a staff member at a plague research institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has called for Russia to provide full clarity on the incident. Wadephul stated to the “Bild-Zeitung” that “the world has questions, and Russia owes answers,” and further indicated that Germany is not ruling out imposing travel restrictions. The CDU politician added that the country “cannot and will not take unnecessary risks.”
The 28-year-old employee perished at the anti-plague institute in Irkutsk. Russian media reported that the fatality occurred after a vial containing the pathogen responsible for pneumonic plague broke, reportedly due to an unknown cause. This event is stated to have taken place on September 25th, with the employee’s death officially reported on October 2nd. Furthermore, there is a suspected second case within the institution, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to request additional details regarding the situation.
However, German experts currently do not foresee an immediate threat to Germany. Roman Wölfel, head of the Bundeswehr Microbiology Institute in Munich, told the “Bild-Zeitung”, “I currently see no immediate danger for Europe and Germany.” Wölfel explained that pneumonic plague does not spread as easily as diseases like the coronavirus or measles, but rather requires close, direct contact.
