Russia has rejected claims that it is implementing anti-plague measures following the death of a laboratory technician from suspected pneumonic plague in Siberia. The woman worked at the anti-plague institute in the Irkutsk region.
Officials stated that the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, with Moscow’s health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, denying that any special precautions have been introduced. Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev noted that the inspection indicated her death was due to pneumonia and stated, “No microorganisms linked to her professional work were found in her biological samples.”
Pneumonic plague is known for being highly contagious and potentially fatal if untreated. Speculation arose that the woman may have contracted the disease from a broken test tube or a lab accident. Reports suggest she may have come into contact with up to 200 people, all of whom are now in quarantine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation. They reported receiving information from Russia indicating that “no cases” of the disease have been recorded in Irkutsk. Russia is currently conducting an epidemiological investigation into a pneumonia case described as “community-acquired” among the institute’s staff. According to the WHO, tests revealed no dangerous pathogens among those who had contact with the technician, and they assess the risk in Irkutsk as “moderate to low.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington is observing developments and urged Russia to “share more information with the world.”
