Rand Paul concerned Russian plague could be ‘weaponized’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) raised concerns that Russia could be conducting biological weapons research involving the plague as global health officials seek more information about the mysterious death of a worker at a Siberian lab.

The 28-year-old worker died Friday after being hospitalized from a severe case of pneumonia, prompting the World Health Organization to seek further information from Russian authorities on her unexplained death and a potential second incident.

Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in an interview Tuesday that Russia’s past biological weapons program and the circumstances surrounding the worker’s death warranted closer scrutiny.

“We do know from defectors in the 1970s and ‘80s that they were weaponizing the plague,” the senator told Fox News’s Will Cain. “So, this is concerning.”

Paul did not provide evidence of his claims or confirm that the worker’s death was connected to a biological weapons program. He suggested, however, that U.S. officials examine satellite imagery and Russian military activity for signs of anything unusual.

“It looks like some people are insinuating there is more activity than you would normally get from one case of the plague,” the Kentucky Republican continued, “which makes us concerned, could it be weaponized?”

Daria Shipilova, an employee at an anti-plague research facility in Russia’s Irkutsk region, reportedly died after breaking a test tube containing live bacteria on Sept. 25.

Irkutsk region Governor Igor Kobzev said the employee died of “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” prompting the investigation and isolation of nearly 200 people who may have potentially been exposed.

Paul called Russia’s lack of clarity about the case of death “alarming,” arguing that officials should be able to quickly determine whether the plague was responsible for the death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was aware of the incident and is “closely monitoring reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague,” adding there currently is no indication of a broader threat to the U.S.

“Pneumonic plague can spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets during close contact, which is why rapid identification and treatment of infected individuals, and monitoring of potentially exposed individuals, are important public health measures,” the agency said in a statement.