A Russian laboratory worker has died following a suspected case of plague in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, prompting health authorities to quarantine a hospital and place nearly 200 people under medical observation.
The woman, identified in Russian media reports as 27- or 28-year-old Daria Sh., was reportedly an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute. She was hospitalised in Shelekhov after developing severe symptoms and was placed on a ventilator before her death.
Reports have suggested that she may have contracted pneumonic plague after allegedly coming into contact with live plague bacteria while working with laboratory samples. However, the exact circumstances of her infection have not been fully established.
Irkutsk regional authorities confirmed that a special sanitary and anti-epidemic commission had been convened over a suspected case of a “particularly dangerous infection.” Russia’s Chief State Sanitary Doctor, Anna Popova, travelled to the region to oversee the response.
The Shelekhov District Hospital was subsequently placed under quarantine, while people identified as contacts of the patient were put under medical observation. Regional Governor Igor Kobzev said those under observation had shown no signs of illness and that laboratory tests were negative at the time of his statement.
Alexei Tsydenov, head of neighbouring Buryatia, later said the woman had died from plague, although his statement was subsequently amended to say she “may have died of plague.” Authorities have not reported evidence of a wider outbreak, and officials have urged the public to remain calm as investigations and preventive measures continue.
