A doctor has warned that the bubonic plague, which wiped out 60% of Europe in the 1300s as the Black Deathk, is fast becoming a risk to the public again. Dr Anna Popova, the senior medical official in Russia's, has warned that the Black Death could make a return as global temperatures rise.
She said: "We do see that the borders of plague hotspots have been changing with global warming and climate change, and other anthropogenic effects on the environment. We are aware that cases of plague in the world have been growing.
"This is one of the risks on today's agenda."
Russia, China and the US have all reported outbreaks in recent years. Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease spread by fleas living on wild rodents and can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time.
The United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF recently warned about a resurgence in Africa, and a month earlier the discovery of bubonic plague led to the cancellation of the Mongolian leg of the Silk Way Rally.
The country has suffered a number of outbreaks in recent years, reports The Mirror. Russia last year took major steps to stop a spread of the Black Death across its frontiers with Mongolia and China.
One outbreak was recorded on the Ukok plateau of the Altai Mountains in Russia - for the first time in more than 60 years.
