Unproven plague cures spread online following reports of death in Russia

Reports that a female employee at a plague research institute in the Irkutsk region of Russia died from the disease have triggered a surge in online interest regarding potential treatments across North America, Medical Xpress reported. [1]

Russian authorities have not confirmed that plague caused the woman's death, according to Medical Xpress. The regional governor stated on Thursday that contact tracing was completed and no health issues were found among any of her contacts. [1]

Despite the lack of official confirmation, social media influencers and self-described preppers are promoting unverified medical products. Medical Xpress reported that these individuals are encouraging people to purchase a 300 dollar kit marketed to help users avoid emergency room visits. [1]

Public trust in official health messaging can fluctuate during health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, public opinion polling from mid-April 2020 showed that fewer than half of Americans trusted health information provided by President Donald Trump, turning instead to local officials, state authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Anthony Fauci. [2]