New York Airport to Screen Russian Travelers Amid Plague Scare

The United States is enhancing its monitoring of passengers arriving from Russia at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York. This measure comes in response to reports from Russia that a researcher died from pneumonic plague, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Erica Schwartz.

Schwartz announced the increased surveillance during a Wall Street Journal event on Wednesday, stating that the initiative aims to protect the U.S. from potential threats. "We are working with Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of War, and other agencies within the government to make sure that we know exactly if anyone from that area comes into the US," Schwartz said.

A port health station has been established at JFK airport to conduct appropriate surveillance and screening for individuals arriving from Russia. Schwartz expressed confidence in the U.S.'s preparedness, noting, "We're very well positioned to make sure that we are protected from a potential threat like that."

Panic in Russia emerged after reports surfaced that Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, died after an alleged laboratory accident. Local media suggested she contracted pneumonic plague, but Russian authorities have disputed this, attributing her death to "pneumonia of unknown aetiology." Her mother has also refuted claims of a lab accident, calling it "impossible" given the facility's safety protocols. Shipilova was hospitalized on September 29 and passed away on October 2.

Media reports suggested a second death from the disease in Russia this week, which has also been denied by Russian authorities. Following Shipilova's death, approximately 200 people and five hospitals were reportedly placed under quarantine, but these measures were later lifted. Russia's state health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, stated that monitoring of Shipilova's contacts concluded without finding dangerous pathogens in nearly 5,000 tested samples. Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that an investigation found the situation to be under control.

U.S. officials estimate that around 2,000 people from Siberia arrive in the U.S. annually, with a significant number passing through JFK Airport. While direct flights between Russia and the U.S. have been suspended since 2022, thousands of Russians still enter the U.S. each year, often via connecting flights through major hubs like JFK, Chicago O'Hare, and Dulles International Airport.

It remains unclear if other U.S. airports are implementing similar screening measures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, airport health screenings included temperature checks and questionnaires about recent travel to affected areas. While the CDC is "closely monitoring" the situation and in contact with other government agencies, officials have indicated that the threat to the United States is considered "extremely low."