New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- Following unverified reports concerning a suspected fatal case of pneumonic plague originating within Russia, Rajeev Jayadevan, Convener of the Research Cell at the Kerala State Indian Medical Association (IMA), emphasised that health authorities are actively tracing contacts and that there is no cause for public panic or immediate threat to India.

Speaking to ANI, Jayadevan underlined that while pneumonic plague is the prime suspect in the evolving situation, the official cause of death remains unconfirmed.

"Yersinia pestis is a bacterium that causes plague. When we call it an outbreak, right now it's an evolving story, and we only know that a lab worker died of pneumonia and that the lab contained a test tube that...