A laboratory worker in Russia, named Darya Shipilova, has died following an illness that started a few days earlier. Reports suggest she may have fallen ill after breaking a test tube with a dangerous pathogen while working at the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East, or during a field trip to an area where plague is present among local rodents.
The US and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are seeking more information on the case. Russia’s health oversight body, Rospotrebnadzor, assured that there are “no epidemic risks” for the people in Irkutsk or the surrounding region. It reported that over 90% of those who came into contact with Shipilova have completed medical observation, with no signs of infection detected.
In neighbouring Mongolia, health authorities have implemented “health surveillance” measures on the border with Russia, stating they would monitor the situation to prevent potential risks, although they assessed the current risk level as low. Lithuania’s health ministry is prepared to manage any potential cases, with available laboratory testing and stockpiled treatment medications.
Following the worker’s death, Russian authorities initially stated she had succumbed to “pneumonia of an undetermined etiology” and that tests revealed no links to her work. However, a government-aligned news outlet later deleted reports about a possible plague case, and local authorities removed travel warnings for an area potentially affected by the infection.
The incident has raised concerns about possible transmission beyond Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the US would be ready to assist if the situation worsens. The WHO notes that pneumonic plague can develop rapidly, with symptoms including shortness of breath and coughing, sometimes producing blood-tinged phlegm. The bacterium responsible for the plague, Yersinia pestis, is typically found in rodents like marmots in affected areas. The Anti-Plague Institute was established around 100 years ago in response to a plague outbreak in the 1920s.
