Suspicious letter to French minister may contain plague bacteria

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

Tests showed a positive result for the presence of plague. The powder was sent to the Pasteur Institute for further analysis. According to France 3 Bourgogne, results are expected by the end of the day on Monday, and the Côte-d'Or prefecture suggests it may be a "false positive."

The criminal division of Dijon is leading an investigation into charges of public insult. The author of the letter has not yet been identified.

The French Ministry of Health warns: if you receive 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, and notify emergency services.

Plague is a highly contagious disease of humans and animals caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It caused some of the greatest pandemics in history, though it does not pose a major threat today. Among animals, the bacteria's source is rodents, primarily rats, wild rabbits, mice, and voles. The most susceptible to plague are rodents, cats, and humans. According to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, some animals, like dogs, horses, cows, and birds, are less or less susceptible.

The disease develops rapidly within a few days of infection. For treatment to be effective, it needs to be started as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of symptom onset.