A mystery death at a Russian lab has reignited fears of the plague, but experts say the chances of a wider outbreak are slim.

The incident, involving a young researcher who reportedly broke a test tube at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, has seen quarantine measures put in place. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assure there’s no broader threat to the U.S.

Christian Lindmeier from the World Health Organization confirmed they’re in touch with Russian authorities, but the public health risk to the general population remains very low. The last reported human-to-human transmission of pneumonic plague was in 1924, making the spread of the disease through such a mechanism extremely rare.

Russian authorities have conducted extensive testing, finding no signs of dangerous pathogens. Given the remote location of Siberia, the spread could be limited. Gigi Gronvall from Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security notes that antibiotics can easily contain the disease, much like the response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

While the incident highlights the importance of rigorous lab safety measures, the risk of a wider plague outbreak is negligible, reassuring those concerned by the resurgence of historical fears.