Plague scare: Letter to French Minister sparks investigation

In the sorting facility of Le Poste in Longvic on the Côte-d'Or coast, a suspicious letter addressed to the French Minister of the Interior was discovered. The letter contained racist insults and a mysterious black powder. Initial tests indicated the presence of plague bacteria in the mysterious substance.

In the central part of France, at the Longvic sorting facility, a letter addressed to Minister Gérald Darmanin was detected, reports “Le Parisien.” The content of the letter included racist insults and black powder. A special police unit ordered an investigation into the mysterious substance.

Tests showed a positive result for the presence of plague. For further analysis, the powder was sent to the Pasteur Institute. According to France 3 Bourgogne, results are expected by 6 PM Eastern Time on Monday, and the Côte-d'Or prefecture insists that it may be a "false positive result."

An investigation was launched on charges of public insult, led by the criminal division of Dijon. The author of the letter has not yet been identified.

The French Ministry of Health warns: In receiving mail containing suspicious powder, it is better not to open it and immediately call the authorities. If a mysterious substance is noticed after opening the envelope, it is advised to leave the room, close all openings inside it, and notify emergency services.

Plague is a highly contagious disease of humans and animals caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. It is a disease that in the past caused the greatest pandemics in the world’s history, though today it does not pose a major threat, given the reservoir of the pathogen. Among animals, the bacteria's source is rodents, primarily rats (but also wild rabbits, mice, voles, etc.). The most susceptible to plague are rodents, cats, and humans. Some animals (e.g., dogs, horses, cows, and birds) are less or not susceptible, informs the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate.

The disease develops rapidly within a few days from the moment of infection. For treatment to be effective, it needs to be undertaken as soon as possible (ideally within 24 hours after symptoms appear).