Russian authorities have moved to reassure the public after reports of a possible plague infection following the death of a laboratory worker in Siberia.
The 28-year-old woman, identified by local media as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in the Irkutsk region. She died after developing severe pneumonia, but Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said tests showed no microorganisms linked to her professional activities.
The death triggered concern after unconfirmed reports suggested she may have contracted pneumonic plague, possibly following a laboratory incident. Authorities have quarantined parts of a hospital where she was treated and placed people who had contact with her under medical observation.
Russian officials said no new cases had been identified among staff at the anti-plague institute and that all known contacts had been traced and examined. Regional Governor Igor Kobzev described the situation as stable and said it remained under control.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the public and media to rely on official information from Rospotrebnadzor rather than rumours and speculation.
Despite the reassurances, the case is being closely monitored internationally because pneumonic plague can spread between people through respiratory droplets and can be fatal without prompt treatment.
The United States has also said it is monitoring developments, while Russian authorities continue investigations into the exact cause of the laboratory worker’s death.
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