{Edited}
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated on October 6, 2026, regarding recent international media reports of a death from pneumonia of unknown cause reported on October 2, 2026, in Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia, Russia.
The patient was a 28-year-old female laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, who died on October 2 after developing severe pneumonia.
According to an official statement issued by the Rospotrebnadzor (Russian official infectious disease management agency), as reported by local Russian media, expanded testing of the infected employee's samples revealed no special microorganisms related to her job duties.
The country's biosafety expert committee also confirmed that no pathogen leakage occurred at the laboratory.
Furthermore, Russia has conducted extensive testing and hospitalized isolation observation on all contacts.
Currently, only two cases of COVID-19 and two cases of rhinovirus infection have been detected, with no other special infectious disease pathogens found, and the relevant contacts have no abnormal symptoms.
The incidence of respiratory diseases among the general population in the region remains within the normal seasonal range.
Further information is still pending clarification.
A WHO spokesperson stated that the public health risk posed by this event to the general public is low.
To monitor the situation, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) inquired with the International Health Regulations (IHR) {focal point} in Russia on October 5th for detailed information regarding the event to clarify the local epidemic situation and the risk of cross-border transmission.
The CDC also sent a letter to the WHO today (October 6th) requesting information related to this case.
The CDC explained that Taiwan has not reported any cases of plague since 1953.
Regarding the international epidemic, according to WHO data, from 2019 to 2025, 10 countries worldwide reported 3,860 suspected cases of plague, of which 2,646 were confirmed cases, resulting in 423 deaths (a case fatality rate of 11% for suspected cases).
Approximately 98% of confirmed cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar. China reported 19 confirmed cases, and Mongolia reported 17 confirmed cases.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) points out that plague is a Category 1 notifiable infectious disease, requiring reporting within 24 hours, immediate isolation and treatment with appropriate antibiotics as soon as possible.
Aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones are the first-line drugs for treating plague and are readily available and stably supplied in domestic clinical practice, suitable for both diagnostic treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis.
In response to emerging infectious diseases, Taiwan has established relevant testing capabilities and an infectious disease prevention and control medical network.
Legal regulations mandate that isolation hospitals at all levels develop emergency response plans, procedures for admitting infectious disease patients, and conduct regular drills, including personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing, negative pressure isolation ward testing and maintenance, and inter-hospital transfer drills, ensuring frontline medical staff are aware of and report emerging infectious diseases.
In addition, collaborations have been established with three medical centers—Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Cheng Kung University Hospital—to set up a special pathogen technology care demonstration center.
A dedicated team has been formed to improve the efficiency of various hardware and software facilities in the care area, introduce smart healthcare technologies, and establish standardized care models. This center can provide professional technical guidance to isolation hospitals at all levels and is capable of providing comprehensive medical care services for patients with highly contagious or unexplained severe acute or emerging infectious diseases.
In response to the current international plague outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is not only closely monitoring the development of the epidemic both domestically and internationally, but also strengthening fever screening at airports and ports, as well as quarantine measures for aircraft and ships.
Furthermore, the CDC is using various communication channels to urge inbound and outbound travelers to pay attention to the international epidemic situation and their own protection.
Source:
Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/tfHqeDmxP80662NPXLwWYA?typeid=9
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