A researcher at an anti-plague laboratory in Siberia has died after the suspected release of a dangerous infection, while nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation as quarantine measures have been imposed in the area.
The incident took place at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk, according to Russian state media TASS. Reports have linked the incident to the possible release of a pathogen during laboratory work, although authorities have not confirmed exactly what was released.
Russian health agency Rospotrebnadzor said that the 28-year-old laboratory worker was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology”, meaning the cause of her illness had not been established. The agency said that special measures were taken following her case and maintained that the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Irkutsk, Shelekhov and the wider Irkutsk region remains stable.
According to the reports, nearly 200 people were placed under observation at the Shelekhov hospital where the laboratory worker was treated. Aleast one maternity hospital in the city has been placed under quarantine.
The head of neighbouring Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, said that the woman died “possibly from the plague”. He also said there were “no plague outbreaks” in Buryatia.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev urged people to remain calm after an extraordinary meeting of the regional anti-epidemic commission with Russia’s chief state doctor. He said that the meeting concerned a “suspected case of a particularly dangerous infection affecting a resident of the region”.
Reports from regional and international media have said that the researcher may have accidentally broken a test tube containing the plague pathogen. However, Rospotrebnadzor has not confirmed that account and has said that no incident involving pathogenic microorganisms was recorded at the institute.
An aluminium plant near the laboratory instructed employees to wear masks as a precaution. Its director, Artem Fominikh, urged calm, saying “there are many rumors and conflicting reports circulating”.
“All identified close contacts are under medical supervision. At present, they show no signs of the disease, and their laboratory test results are negative,” Fominikh said.
Gennady Onishchenko, a former head of Rospotrebnadzor, said that the infection was “most likely not the plague”. He added that even if plague is confirmed, “there will be no spread of this disease”, while telling TASS that colder weather will likely prevent transmission.
Pneumonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis and can spread through respiratory particles. The United Stated (US) State Department told an international media outlet it was aware of the possible death from pneumonic plague and was monitoring the situation with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies.
