Searches for 'chuma' surge 5,000% after lab worker dies
After a worker in a plague research lab died, resulting in the quarantine of around 200 people, searches for ‘chuma’ have seen a huge surge.
This is according to a report by The Times, which stated that online searches for ‘chuma’, which is the Russian word for plague, are now up by 5,000% compared to this time last year.
The increase in searches comes as people online express their fears that the recent incident could turn into another COVID-like pandemic.
The worker, who was identified by local media as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, had been employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East at the time of her death.
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Her death sparked a major public health response which led to 200 people who had been in contact with the worker being placed in quarantine or under medical supervision in Siberia.
While rumors surrounding the cause of death have been circulating online, Shipilova reportedly became unwell before dying in the Irkutsk region, with officials having described her cause of death as pneumonia of unknown origin.
As reported by Reuters, the World Health Organization (WHO) shared a statement on the matter to say that, based on available information, ‘the public health risk to the general population appears to be low’.
The WHO added that it would carry out further risk assessments as more information becomes available.
President Donald Trump has also weighed in with his thoughts, telling the press: “Well, I hate to see them having it, it’s a rough disease.”
The president added: “We’ll help. Anybody that has that kind of a problem, we’re always willing to help.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the US government is closely following the situation.
However, authorities have since stressed that none of the findings so far establish a connection between the woman’s death and plague.
Experts reassure over fears of possible plague outbreak
With public concerns growing over a potential plague outbreak, the WHO’s statement appears to reassure people that the risk is low.
The disease can be serious, and can quickly turn deadly, when left untreated but can be treated with antibiotics when it is diagnosed promptly.
Plague has been present in Siberia for thousands of years, with researchers previously identifying the region as the location of the oldest known prehistoric human outbreak.
There are three main forms of plague, with pneumonic plague being the form that can spread between people through respiratory droplets.