Siberia plague outbreak is an 'isolated incident', virologist says

Updated: 07/10/2026 - 9:17 GMT+2 Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst says that while people may think of plague as “something medieval”, cases are reported every year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. However, he says the laboratory link makes this incident “a little more serious”. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Van Ranst also spoke about the impact of COVID-19 this winter. The virologist said the virus is back, but in a “milder form”. He does not expect this winter to resemble 2020 or 2021.