English
A researcher at a plague research institute in Siberia has died under unclear circumstances, triggering a public health response that included quarantines, a hospital cordon and an emergency visit by Russia’s top health official to the region.
Local media identified the woman as Darya Shipilova, 28, an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East. Authorities confirmed she died of pneumonia of undetermined origin. However, they stopped short of linking her death to her work at the institute.
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Authorities Move Quickly to Contain Concerns
Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, flew to the Irkutsk region over the weekend for an emergency meeting. Her agency told state media that the institute found no evidence of any accidents involving the handling of pathogens. This came after rumours spread on social media that the researcher had dropped a test tube containing live bacteria.
Meanwhile, officials quarantined an unspecified number of people who had been in contact with the woman. Authorities also cordoned off parts of the hospital in the town of Shelekhov where she died. In addition, a nearby aluminum plant instructed its workers to wear masks as a precaution.
Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev issued a public statement describing the death as caused by “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” He added: “Importantly, over the past few days, no new cases of staff from the Anti-Plague Institute seeking medical attention have been identified.” Kobzev said all known contacts of the woman had been identified, examined and placed under medical supervision.
Plague in Siberia: Background and Risk
Plague is endemic to Siberia. The region is home to the earliest known prehistoric human outbreak of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the disease. The pathogen circulates among small wild mammals and their fleas across Siberia’s vast wilderness.
It is rare for Russians to contract plague. Cases do occur annually in other parts of the world, particularly across Africa. Plague takes three forms, each affecting a different part of the body. Pneumonic plague infects the lungs and causes patients to cough out infectious airborne droplets.
If doctors identify pneumonic plague early, antibiotics can treat it effectively. However, if left untreated, it can prove fatal within one to six days. Authorities urged the public to remain calm and said the overall situation was under control.
