US monitoring suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia, State Department official says

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for October 4 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Hören Sie sich diesen Artikel an 2 Min The State Department is monitoring reports of a suspected fatal Pneumonic Plague case in Russia and is urging Moscow to share accurate information quickly as details remain unconfirmed. A State Department official told Fox News that the U.S. is aware of reports of a death in Irkutsk Oblast, a region in southeastern Siberia, and is watching the situation closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies. The official stressed that many details have not been confirmed and called on Russian authorities to reveal what they know. Former CIA officer Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital that the U.S. intelligence community is likely to be collecting all-source intelligence on the incident. SCIENTISTS CRACK THE CODE ON NEW VACCINE FOR DEADLY PLAGUE BACTERIA FILE - A man has his nose swabbed. The State Department is monitoring reports of a suspected fatal Pneumonic Plague case in Russia. (iStock) "I would also expect our embassy in Moscow to be engaging with their diplomatic counterparts at an official level because we might have people in Russia who might be at risk," Hoffman warned. "Washington will be speaking to all of our allies and partners in the region and sharing what we know." DEADLY BACTERIA THAT DOOMED NAPOLEON'S ARMY DISCOVERED 213 YEARS AFTER RUSSIAN RETREAT Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis) causes Bubonic Plague and is carried in the pathogen of rats and there are still many regions of the world where the disease occurs. (iStock) Pneumonic Plague can be treated with common antibiotics, especially when treatment begins early, the official said. Appropriate therapy should begin as soon as plague is suspected, and patients can be treated with intravenous or oral antimicrobials depending on the severity of illness and other factors, according to the CDC. FILE - A State Department official says the U.S. is tracking reports of a suspected fatal Pneumonic Plague case in Russia while pressing Moscow for timely, accurate information. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Cases of Pneumonic Plague occur naturally in many parts of the world, according to the State Department official. The official said the safety and security of U.S. citizens remains the department’s top priority and encouraged Americans traveling overseas to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, to receive updates. Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.