[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Suspected plague pathogen leak in Russia... KDCA: "Risk remains low for now"

Researcher at Russia's Anti-Plague Research Institute Dies of Pneumonia
Lim Seungkwan: "Information Remains Insufficient... Measures Will Be Taken if Needed"

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has launched an emergency risk assessment into suspicions of a plague pathogen leak following the death of a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia. The agency currently assesses the risk as low.

Lim Seungkwan, commissioner of the KDCA, said Wednesday, October 7, during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, “An initial risk assessment was needed, so we conducted an emergency assessment this afternoon” in response to the possibility of a plague pathogen leak in Russia.

Lim Seung-gwan, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Yonhap News

Lee Man-hee of the People Power Party, chair of the Health and Welfare Committee, asked, “Reports say a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia died of acute pneumonia after dropping a test tube containing live plague bacteria. Shouldn’t measures be taken, such as tightening quarantine inspections for people and cargo arriving from the area?”

Commissioner Lim said, “The World Health Organization has also classified the risk for European countries other than Russia as very low. We still do not have enough reliable information, so we are continuing to monitor the situation closely.”

He added, “We will continue to review and reassess our risk assessment system, and if the risk level rises, we will immediately strengthen measures such as quarantine inspections.”

Committee Chair Lee said, “The information available is quite limited, and there is also a possibility that misinformation could come in. The KDCA needs to respond with greater vigilance, including during the entry screening process.” Commissioner Lim replied, “I will keep that firmly in mind.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.