Siberia Plague Institute Worker Dies of Undetermined Pneumonia
A 28-year-old laboratory technician at an anti-plague institute in Siberia’s Irkutsk region has died of pneumonia of undetermined aetiology, prompting quarantines and monitoring of contacts even as Russian officials insist tests found no plague and the situation is under control.
Laboratory Technician Dies in Siberia
Darya Shipilova, 28, who worked at the anti-plague institute in Irkutsk, died last week. [1] Initial media reports citing unnamed sources claimed she may have contracted pneumonic plague from a broken test tube or lab accident. [1] Local state TV reported that the woman died last week after falling ill. [3] Other media also reported a possible link between her death and a lab accident at the facility. [1]
Officials Rule Out Plague
Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev stated that a special expert commission determined the cause of death was pneumonia of undetermined aetiology. [1] Rospotrebnadzor tests found no microorganisms linked to her professional work in her biological samples. [1] Authorities say tests found no microorganisms linked to the woman’s professional activities. [4] The governor added that Russia’s consumer and health watchdog had determined following tests that no microorganisms linked to the young woman’s professional work were found in her biological samples. [1]
Quarantine and Monitoring Measures
Local media reports indicate dozens of people have been quarantined. [2] A hospital has been quarantined. [3] A mask mandate is in place amid the unconfirmed plague claims. [4] Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital and are monitoring contacts of an employee at a plague research institute in Siberia who contracted pneumonia of an unknown cause. [3] Dozens quarantined in Siberia after plague institute lab worker dies. [2]
Kremlin Directs Public to Official Statements
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directed reporters to rely on Rospotrebnadzor’s official statements rather than rumours and speculations. [1] Asked about the situation, Peskov told reporters to rely on Rospotrebnadzor’s official statements rather than rumours and speculations. [1]
Situation Declared Under Control
Officials reported no new cases of institute staff seeking medical attention since her death. [1] The governor described the sanitary-epidemiological situation in Irkutsk as stable. [1] Russian officials say the situation under control after plague reports in Siberia. [1] The governor said the situation remains under control and that of the experts. [1] Authorities say the situation remains under control. [4]
Background on Plague
Plague is a bacterial disease. [1] Pneumonic plague is the most contagious form and can be fatal if not treated early, according to the World Health Organisation. [1] Plague is a bacterial disease that can occur in several forms, including pneumonic plague, the most contagious type. [1]
What to watch next: Officials will continue to monitor contacts while reporting no new cases of staff from the anti-plague institute seeking medical attention and maintaining that the sanitary-epidemiological situation in Irkutsk remains stable.
