US Urges Americans to Leave Russia Amid Suspected Pneumonic Plague Case

The United States has urged American citizens currently in Russia to leave the country immediately as authorities investigate a suspected case of pneumonic plague in the Siberian region of Irkutsk.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert on October 6, saying it was monitoring reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case that resulted in a death, along with quarantine measures and hospital closures in the Irkutsk region.

The embassy advised Americans in the affected area to follow instructions from local health authorities, avoid facilities under quarantine and seek medical attention promptly if they develop a fever or respiratory symptoms. Americans who have recently travelled to the affected area were also advised to monitor their health for 14 days.

The warning also reiterated the State Department’s existing Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia, which predates the current health concerns and is based primarily on security threats, including the risk of wrongful detention and the U.S. government’s limited ability to assist citizens in the country.

The State Department says Americans already in Russia should leave immediately and make their own travel arrangements because commercial options could become more limited.

The health concern emerged after a worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute died following pneumonia of unknown origin. Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed that the person had pneumonic plague, and the World Health Organization has assessed the broader risk as low while seeking additional information.

The U.S. government has also asked Russia for more information about the death and the circumstances surrounding the suspected infection. U.S. health officials are monitoring the situation, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has described the risk to the United States as extremely low.

The situation remains under investigation, and there is currently no confirmed evidence of a wider pneumonic plague outbreak across Russia. For now, the U.S. warning reflects both the unresolved health situation in Irkutsk and the longstanding security risks associated with travel and residence in Russia.