WHO: "Risk of Plague in China Not Considered High"

"Monitoring Outbreak Situations, Cooperating with Chinese and Mongolian Authorities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed the view that the risk of the plague (Yersinia pestis) originating in China is not significant.

On the 7th (local time), Margaret Harris, WHO spokesperson, stated at a regular briefing at the United Nations Geneva office, "We are monitoring the outbreak situation in China and cooperating with the authorities of China and Mongolia."

WHO said, "The plague is rare but is found in some areas where it remains endemic," adding, "In China, sporadic cases of the plague have been reported over the past decade."

Earlier, it was reported that a herder in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China was confirmed to have bubonic plague. The Inner Mongolia authorities issued a 'relatively serious (Level 3)' early warning, the second of four levels issued in preparation for disasters, and decided to maintain it until the end of this year.

Prior to this, in the Khovd region of Mongolia, brothers who ate illegally hunted marmots were also confirmed to have the plague.