Linus Kukuraitis: Lithuania may restrict Russian transit if plague threat is confirmed

Possible transit restrictions due to epidemic threat

Lithuania is considering the possibility of imposing restrictions on the transit movement of Russian citizens through its territory. Such a decision may be taken if reports of pulmonary plague cases in the Russian Federation are confirmed and the disease is recognised as a threat to the country's security.

Lithuania's Health Minister, Linus Kukuraitis, stated this on Wednesday during a broadcast on LRT radio. He emphasised that any restrictive measures would be coordinated with the European Union. It is worth noting that following the COVID-19 pandemic, procedures for restricting movement during healthcare emergencies were established in the EU.

«Якщо ми побачимо навіть найменшу загрозу, ми порушимо це питання, і рішення будуть ухвалені спільно» (If we see even the slightest threat, we will raise this issue, and decisions will be made jointly), Kukuraitis noted.

Healthcare system readiness and action coordination

The minister said that on Tuesday he held a meeting with representatives of key state institutions responsible for countering a possible outbreak. According to him, Lithuania has already developed appropriate response procedures and has sufficient stocks of necessary medicines.

At the same time, Kukuraitis stressed that information about the pulmonary plague case in Russia has not yet been independently confirmed. He characterised the current situation as alarming but emphasised the desire to reassure the public.

«Це водночас тривожна ситуація, і ми хотіли б заспокоїти громадськість» (This is both an alarming situation, and we would like to reassure the public), he said, adding that information coming from Russia is treated with caution, as it is a «країна, що веде війну та є ворожою» (country that is waging a war and is hostile).

According to the minister, Lithuania, other European states, and the United States of America are closely monitoring the development of events.

Risk assessment by the National Public Health Centre

Lithuania's National Public Health Centre reported that there is currently no increased risk of plague infection for the country's residents. The centre noted that available data is limited, so it is not possible to independently confirm whether the reported case concerned the pulmonary form of the disease.