'Not a big threat': What do we need to know about Russian plague?

An epidemiologist says a plague bacteria suspected of killing a Russian lab worker in Siberia is unlikely to be a bio-weapon.

The woman died within days of contracting a pneumonia of unknown origin. 

Hundreds of close contacts are being monitored - and the World Health Organisation is demanding details from Russia.

Professor Michael Baker says the lab's known to handle plague bacteria as a reference specimen - and accidents happen. 

"This is, of course, one of the bacteria that has been used as a bio-weapon - or at least developed as one - but I think, generally, there's not so much interest now in those kinds of weapons because they're very hard to control." 

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