Azerbaijan does not need additional restrictions in response to reports of plague in Russia’s Irkutsk region, the Health Ministry said, adding that the country’s epidemiological situation remains stable.
The ministry told APA that Azerbaijan has recorded no plague cases in the past 50 years.
The Center for the Control of Particularly Dangerous Infections is monitoring information coming from Russia. Sanitary and epidemiological checks involving people arriving in Azerbaijan are being conducted under existing requirements.
Laboratory Prepared for Suspected Cases
If a suspected case is detected, samples can be tested at the center’s laboratory, the ministry said. The facility has the equipment and supplies needed to conduct the examinations.
Authorities continue to assess the situation and can strengthen measures quickly if necessary. Based on the information currently available, the ministry said there is no reason for special concern among the population.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The infection circulates in nature mainly among rodents and fleas. People can become infected through contact with an infected animal or flea. In cases of pneumonic plague, transmission can also occur through respiratory droplets.
The ministry stressed that plague is treatable and that early diagnosis and timely medical care are critical. It advised the public to rely on official information.