Grieving Mother Denies Daughter Died from Plague After Breaking Test Tube

The mother of a young Russian scientist, Darya Shipilova, 28, who died on October 2 after falling ill while working at the Siberian Anti-Plague Research Institute in Irkutsk, has denied reports that her daughter was infected after breaking a test tube containing deadly bacteria. Local media had suggested that Shipilova may have contracted the plague in this manner, but her mother, Svetlana Shipilova, a medical professional, dismissed these claims as impossible.

"I don't want to read nasty things about my child. I know the truth," Svetlana Shipilova stated. "Not even all medical professionals realize that it's impossible to break the test tube—even if you hurl it against a wall. Only an amateur would say something like that. Even hypothetically, it's simply impossible to spill or break it. They are so heavily protected."

While local officials initially attributed Shipilova's death to the plague, these statements were later retracted. The Kremlin has stated she died from "pneumonia of unknown aetiology [origin]."

Darya Shipilova's home has undergone multiple disinfections by teams in protective gear. Following her death, three vehicles arrived at her apartment building late at night, with workers in orange protective suits and gas masks treating the entrances with a chemical agent. Neighbors reported an acrid smell that made breathing difficult.

Svetlana Shipilova also expressed frustration over being placed in quarantine with other relatives, preventing her from burying her daughter. "Who is going to bury her if we are sitting here imprisoned?" she asked.

She described her daughter as a dedicated worker, noting the difficulty of securing a position at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute and highlighting that Darya was hired due to her supervisor's knowledge of her integrity and work ethic.

Amid reports of a second unconfirmed plague case in Siberia, the World Health Organization has sought answers from Russia. However, the Kremlin maintains that no cases of the disease have been recorded in Irkutsk.

The plague, a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, is treatable with antibiotics. Historically known for devastating outbreaks, most human cases today occur in Africa. The United States averages about seven cases per year, primarily in the rural West. The disease spreads naturally among rodents and can be transmitted to humans through flea bites or contact with infected bodily fluids. Pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs, can spread through respiratory droplets, though transmission requires close, face-to-face contact. Experts believe widespread transmission in Russia, and subsequently to the U.S., is unlikely.