Philippine infectious disease specialist assesses the probability of spread as extremely low

Philippine infectious disease specialist Rontgene Solante assessed the probability of the illness discussed after the death of Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute employee Darya Shipilova spreading to the Philippines as very low. He urged people not to panic. Philippine Canadian Inquirer describes his assessment as “almost bordering on zero” and notes that Russian authorities have not confirmed pneumonic plague.

ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. (ZBNI, a Philippine broadcaster) dates Solante’s comments to 8 October. Its account says he explained that plague is uncommon, associated with particular rodents and fleas, and treatable. The three reports describe a similar assessment; independent sourcing of the comment by the outlets has not been established.

The Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, channel 13 (IBC TV 13, a Philippine broadcaster) article also quotes Claire Castro, the Malacañang presidential palace press officer. She said DOH (Department of Health, the Philippines’ health ministry) is monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures. The article does not specify when she said this. It announces no new decision to close borders or restrict travel.

Solante assesses the probability of spread rather than diagnosing the deceased worker. These reports present no new tests of her samples. IBC TV 13 and ZBNI descriptions of the WHO (World Health Organization) position should be compared with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s primary 7 October remarks: the organization said it lacked information for a full risk assessment and requested further details.

IBC TV 13 was published 9 October at 10:45:53 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time),18:45:53 in Irkutsk. Philippine Canadian Inquirer was published 05:00:11 UTC and updated 06:20:05 UTC (13:00:11 and 14:20:05 in Irkutsk). ZBNI was published 14:53:49 UTC+8 and updated 14:53:50, also Irkutsk time. The hour of Solante’s 8 October comments is unknown. Sources added 9 October.