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Plague in the News

Writer: Dr. Watson
Dr. Watson
4 days ago
6 min read


"The Plague" has probably popped up in your news feed this past week. Let's talk about what's going on, what plague actually is in 2026, and why you can take a deep breath. Grab your coffee, and let's break it down the way I always do.


What's in the news?

In early October, reports emerged that a 28-year-old laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia had died after a severe lung infection. Some regional officials and media outlets said it might be pneumonic

plague. Russia's public health agency described it as "pneumonia of unknown cause," said it found no organisms linked to her lab work, and denied there had been a lab accident. Russia also told the World Health Organization that no plague cases had been recorded in the region. Reports say nearly 200 people were placed under medical observation.

Here's where things get murky. The WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have said the cause of death isn't officially confirmed. The U.S. State Department has urged Russia to share information quickly and openly, and the CDC says it is monitoring the situation. The ECDC has called the risk to Europe very low, and U.S. officials have said there's no reason to panic.

In other words, this is a developing story with a lot of unanswered questions. As of this writing, this is not a plague outbreak, and there's no indication of risk to families here in the U.S. Let's use this moment to understand the basics.


WHAT is plague?

Plague is an infection caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. It's the same germ responsible for the Black Death, which swept through Europe in the 1300s and killed tens of millions of people. It lives mainly in small mammals, like rodents, and in the fleas that feed on them.

Here's the big difference between then and now: plague is treatable. We have antibiotics, modern hospitals, and good public health tracking, none of which existed in the 14th century. When plague is caught and treated early, most people recover.

A quick side note: you may also hear about Yersinia enterocolitica. It's a different member of the same family, and it causes a stomach illness (yersiniosis) with diarrhea, belly pain, and fever. It's usually linked to undercooked pork or contaminated food or water, and it's far more common in kids than plague. It's not related to plague.


HOW do people get plague?

  • Flea bites are the most common way. An infected flea bites a person after feeding on an infected animal.

  • Direct contact with infected animals, including handling sick or dead wildlife.

  • Infected pets, especially cats, which can bring fleas or sick rodents into the home.

  • Breathing in droplets from a person or animal with plague in the lungs (pneumonic plague).

Most plague is not spread by casual contact. Only the pneumonic form can pass from person to person, and that generally takes close contact with someone who is sick.

The three types of plague

1. Bubonic plague (the most common form)

  • It starts after a flea bite or contact with an infected animal.

  • Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headache, weakness, and a swollen, very tender lymph node called a "bubo," usually in the groin, armpit, or neck.

  • Symptoms typically begin within about a week of exposure.

  • Over 80% of U.S. cases are bubonic.

2. Septicemic plague

  • The bacteria get into the bloodstream.

  • Symptoms include fever, chills, extreme weakness, belly pain, and sometimes bleeding under the skin or darkening of fingers, toes, or the nose from poor blood flow. That is where the name "Black Death" came from.

3. Pneumonic plague (the most serious form)

  • The bacteria infect the lungs, either from breathing in droplets or when untreated bubonic or septicemic plague spreads to the lungs.

  • Symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes bloody mucus. It can appear faster, in just a few days.

  • It's the only type that spreads from person to person. It's also the form that has people worried right now.


Does plague happen in the United States?

It does, but rarely. The CDC reports an average of about 7 human cases a year in the U.S., ranging from 1 to 17. Most happen in rural parts of the West and Southwest: northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, plus parts of California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada. Cases occur in people of all ages, including children. Most happen in warmer months, though they can happen any time of year.

You may have seen headlines in recent years about U.S. cases, such as an Oregon case in early 2024 linked to a sick pet cat. These cases are scattered, they're identified, and they're treated.


Treatment: what you need to know

  • Plague is treated with antibiotics, and the sooner they start, the better.

    Doctors can choose from several effective ones, including gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline. Your child's dose and medication

    would be chosen by their medical team.

  • Treatment shouldn't wait for lab confirmation if plague is suspected. In a child who is very sick with a likely exposure, doctors treat first.

  • Hospital care is usual, often with fluids and other supportive care.

  • Close contacts of someone with pneumonic plague may be offered preventive antibiotics, and patients are isolated to prevent spread.

  • There's no plague vaccine available in the U.S. at this time.


Myth Busters

Myth #1: "The Black Death is back."

  • Plague never went away entirely, but it's rare, and we know how to treat it. The Black Death happened in a world without antibiotics or sanitation.

Myth #2: "I can catch plague from someone just by being near them."

  • Only pneumonic plague spreads person to person, and it takes close contact. Bubonic plague doesn't spread that way.

Myth #3: "Plague is only a thing of the past."

  • Plague still occurs in parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and the Western U.S. But it's uncommon, and it's treatable.

Myth #4: "Every swollen lymph node means plague."

  • Not even close. Swollen glands in kids are very common and are almost always from colds, strep throat, or other everyday infections.


What parents can do

Prevention (especially if you live in or travel to the Southwest or West):

  • Don't touch sick or dead wild animals, and teach kids to stay away from them.

  • Avoid feeding or handling wild rodents, like squirrels, chipmunks, and prairie dogs, and avoid areas with prairie dog die-offs.

  • Use flea control on pets. Keep cats, in particular, from roaming and hunting.

  • Use insect repellent with DEET when camping, hiking, or hunting.

  • Take any sick pet to a vet promptly, and let the vet know if you've been in a plague area.

When to call your doctor right away:

  • Sudden high fever with a swollen, painful lymph node, plus a possible exposure (contact with wildlife, a sick pet, or travel to an area with known plague)

  • Fever with cough, chest pain, or trouble breathing after possible plague exposure

  • Any child who seems very sick, especially after outdoor exposure in the Western U.S.

If you're traveling soon, check travel advisories for your destination, and bring up any concerns with your pediatrician beforehand.


The bottom line

The news from Russia is concerning, and it makes sense to want answers, especially when official information is slow and unclear. But for families here at home, the takeaway is reassuring: plague is rare, we know how to treat it, and the U.S. has a strong public health system watching for it. Stay informed from reliable sources, take simple precautions outdoors, and call your pediatrician if you have questions about your child's symptoms or travel plans.


Works Cited

CDC

American Academy of Pediatrics / Infectious disease experts

  • Kimberlin DW, Banerjee R, Barnett ED, Lynfield R, Sawyer MH, eds. "Plague (Yersinia pestis)." In: Red Book: 2024–2027 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 33rd ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2024.

  • Inglesby TV, Dennis DT, Henderson DA, et al. "Plague as a Biological Weapon: Medical and Public Health Management." JAMA. 2000;283(17):2281-2290.

International health agencies

News coverage (October 2026)

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