The Ministry of Health in Vietnam has issued a critical warning urging citizens to be cautious about contact with rodents and fleas. This advisory was prompted by the recent death of a staff member from the Plague Research Institute in Irkutsk, Russia, who succumbed to severe pneumonia on October 2. Initial reports suggested that the technician might have died from the plague, specifically pneumonic plague, as stated by Alexei Tsydenov, the head of the Republic of Buryatia.

However, on October 5, Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk, clarified that a special expert council determined the cause of death to be "pneumonia of unknown origin." In light of these developments, the Ministry of Health has advised the public to monitor official information from health authorities and to avoid sharing unverified news to prevent panic.

The Ministry also recommended maintaining a clean living environment and actively controlling rodent and flea populations. Citizens are strongly advised against handling sick or dead rodents without proper protective measures, as these animals can carry numerous viruses, bacteria, and parasites, including the plague.

Individuals who have been in contact with suspected sources of infection or have visited areas with reported cases should seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as sudden high fever, swollen lymph nodes, cough, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, and should not self-medicate with antibiotics.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health noted that upon receiving information from the media, they contacted the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Vietnam to verify and exchange information. As of October 7, the WHO stated that it is actively monitoring the situation and communicating with relevant authorities regarding the incident in Russia.

According to information provided by Russian health authorities to the WHO, there have been no recent reported cases of plague in Irkutsk. Russian authorities are conducting epidemiological investigations and implementing preventive measures. They are also identifying individuals who were in contact with the case for health monitoring and testing. So far, no high-risk pathogens have been detected among these contacts, and health monitoring for these cases has been completed.

The WHO continues to collaborate with Russian authorities to verify media reports and gather additional data to assess any potential risks and impacts on international public health.

Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a serious infectious disease with three main forms: bubonic (affecting the lymphatic system), septicemic (affecting the circulatory system), and pneumonic. The pneumonic form is the most dangerous, attacking the lungs and causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, and coughing up blood, with a very high mortality rate. It is also the only form that can be transmitted directly from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs.