Armenia Prepares for Possible Traveler Screenings After Suspected Plague Case in Russia

Armenia is closely monitoring a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia and could introduce health screenings for travelers if the risk increases, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said Wednesday.

The alert follows the October 2 death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia. Her cause of death has not been officially confirmed. Russian authorities have described it as “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” while about 200 people have been placed under medical observation.

Speaking in parliament, Avanesyan said Armenia has formed an operational working group to follow developments and review new information as it emerges.

If the threat grows, authorities are prepared to tighten controls, including temperature checks for passengers arriving in Armenia, she said.

“All the necessary tools are ready to be deployed depending on the level of risk,” Avanesyan said.

The Health Ministry is also working with the World Health Organization and other partners to assess the situation and determine whether additional precautions are needed.

Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague that affects the lungs and can spread between people through respiratory droplets during close contact. Avanesyan said the risk of death is high when patients do not receive appropriate antibiotic treatment in time.

“We are paying very close attention to this issue, remain vigilant and are carrying out all necessary work in a coordinated manner,” she said.

According to Avanesyan, the WHO currently assesses the risk connected to the suspected case in Irkutsk as moderate to low. The risk across Russia is considered low, while the risk to the broader WHO European Region is very low.

Avanesyan said Armenian health authorities are also following reports of Ebola outbreaks in several African countries.

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