Russia fights to stop an outbreak of bubonic plague

Russia, (Daily Mail), 14 August 2020 -   Russia has stepped up vaccinations against the bubonic plague amid signs of a ‘alarming’ westward spread of the Black Death.  

The deadly disease has been detected in the Altai Mountains, a popular Siberian tourist region, including an area where it has not been seen since monitoring began 62 years ago.  

The rush to vaccinate more than 32,000 comes after two deaths in Mongolia and two in China, which both share borders with Russia.  

Some 18,090 people have been immunised in scenic Altai Republic after the spread in marmots and other rodents, announced health officials.  

Earlier this week, the bubonic plague spread by fleas was detected in southern districts of Tuva Republic - where Regional Chief Sholban Kara-ool has ordered the immunisation of 14,000 people living close to the infection source.  

‘The disease is dangerous,’ he said, insisting that everyone aged over two must be injected.