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A 28-year-old laboratory technician has died of plague in Russia’s remote Irkutsk region, prompting authorities to quarantine more than 200 people and suspend public gatherings and events.
The incident occurred at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov. The deceased, identified as Daria Shipilova, reportedly contracted highly infectious pneumonic plague after accidentally breaking a test tube containing live bacteria.
According to local media reports, Shipilova told doctors that she had broken the test tube while collecting samples for laboratory testing. She was admitted to a hospital in Shelekhov on September 29 with severe symptoms of pneumonia. Her condition deteriorated and she was placed on ventilation before she died on October 1.
More than 200 people who came into contact with her have been placed under quarantine. Authorities have also cancelled public gatherings and events across the Irkutsk region.
Regional Governor Igor Kobzev initially said a possible case of a “particularly dangerous infection” had been detected and urged residents to remain calm. However, he later said the case involved pneumonia of unknown origin.
In a Telegram post, Kobzev said no harmful pathogen linked to the patient’s professional work had been detected in her samples. He added that none of the institute’s employees had shown symptoms of an infectious disease over the previous 10 days.
“All contacts have been identified and tested and are under medical observation, including daily laboratory tests,” he said.
Kobzev also said he had met the head of Russia’s consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor on October 2 to coordinate emergency preventive measures. He said the agency was implementing comprehensive epidemic-prevention measures.
Meanwhile, Alexei Sidorov, governor of neighbouring Buryatia, said on October 2 that a woman in the adjacent Irkutsk region had “possibly died of plague”. He said, however, that there was no plague outbreak in Buryatia.
What is pneumonic plague?
The World Health Organization describes pneumonic plague as the most dangerous form of plague because it affects the lungs. Symptoms can develop within 24 hours of infection and include breathing difficulties and severe coughing, often accompanied by bloody sputum.
The disease can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. WHO warns that pneumonic plague can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treatedpl promptly.
However, early diagnosis and treatment, particularly within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, significantly improve the chances of recovery.
