The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter CDC) on October 8, 2026 stated that in response to recent international media reports that the Irkutsk (Siberia, Russia) Plague Prevention Research Institute reported a death case of pneumonia of unknown cause on October 2, 2026, and that on October 6 a second suspected plague death case was reported. To closely monitor the international epidemic situation, the CDC on October 6, through Taiwan's International Health Regulations (IHR) liaison unit, sent an inquiry to the World Health Organization (WHO) to verify related epidemic information.
The CDC noted that WHO formally responded on October 7. According to information provided by WHO, Russian authorities informed WHO on October 6 that Irkutsk has not reported any plague cases recently. Regarding a staff member of the Irkutsk Plague Prevention Research Institute who developed severe pneumonia, the country has launched an epidemiological investigation and initiated relevant prevention and control measures; all contacts have been identified and examined, and no high-threat pathogens have been detected so far.
WHO stated that because information on the related cases is incomplete, it is currently insufficient to draw an evidence-based conclusion on whether this incident poses a potential risk to the public; caution must be maintained and a dynamic risk assessment conducted. WHO’s Director-General also issued a public statement on October 6, formally requesting Russian authorities to clarify the exact cause of the first severe pneumonia case and the pathogen that prompted the authorities to implement large-scale public health measures, and to provide specific clarification on the second case of pneumonia of unknown cause reported by the media. WHO will continue to stay in contact with Russian authorities and actively verify the authenticity of the media reports.
The CDC explained that Taiwan has not had any plague cases since 1953. According to WHO statistics, between 2019 and 2025, a total of 10 countries worldwide reported 3,860 suspected plague cases, of which 2,646 were confirmed cases, resulting in 423 deaths (suspected case fatality rate 11%). Approximately 98% of confirmed cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar; neighboring countries such as China reported 19 confirmed cases, and Mongolia reported 17 confirmed cases.
The CDC emphasized that it has been closely monitoring the development of the epidemic, strengthening border fever screening and other quarantine measures. Domestic testing capacity has been established and an infectious disease prevention and control medical network has been set up. The relevant therapeutic drugs are standard, stable-supply antibiotics in domestic clinical practice, available for confirmed treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis. The public is urged not to panic excessively.
Source: CDC
Data compiled by: Sensory Management Office
