Harbinger?

Martial Law Declared In Ukraine Over Mystery Epidemic

"According to the write up at Chechen news outlet Kavkaz Center, the Ukrainian News Agency Fraza, has reported “it has been confirmed 100% Pneumonic Plague in Ukraine” and that in order to quell panic only talk of swine flu has been sanctioned by the authorities."

Thousands quarantined as pneumonic plague hits China

Symptoms

"The most apparent symptom of pneumonic plague is coughing, often with hemoptysis (coughing up blood). With pneumonic plague, the first signs of illness are fever, headache, weakness, and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery sputum. The pneumonia progresses for two to four days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Without early treatment, patients will die, some within 24 hours."