Lab Technician Dies of Pneumonic Plague in Siberia; 200 Quarantined
A 28-year-old lab worker in Irkutsk has died from pneumonic plague, prompting health officials to place approximately 200 people who had contact with her under quarantine.
A lab technician in Siberia has died from pneumonic plague after a suspected incident involving a broken test tube, leading to the quarantine of at least 200 individuals. The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova.
Shipilova was reportedly working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute when the incident occurred. She was admitted to a hospital on September 29 and died two days later, having been placed on a ventilator. Local news outlet 'People of Baikal' reported the details of the incident.
Alexei Tsydenov, governor of Russia's neighboring Buryatia region, confirmed a death from plague in the Irkutsk region via social media. Anna Popova, Russia's Chief State Sanitary Doctor, has traveled to Siberia to oversee the outbreak, and a mask mandate has been implemented in Irkutsk.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev stated that an extraordinary meeting of the regional sanitary commission was held with Popova. He confirmed information about a suspected case of a particularly dangerous infectious disease in a resident. "All identified contacts have been placed under medical observation," Kobzev said, adding that none of the contacts have shown signs of illness and their laboratory test results have been negative.
Mikail Modin, mayor of nearby Shelekhov, urged residents to rely on official sources and avoid spreading rumors. "It is too early to draw final conclusions—we will wait for the specialists' findings," he commented.
Pneumonic plague is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease if not treated promptly, according to the World Health Organization. Health officials have been observed in Irkutsk wearing hazmat suits following the incident.