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Plague Scare in Russia: Lab Researcher Dies, 200 Quarantined Amid Pneumonia Concerns
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CNBC Awaaz•05-10-2026, 12:17
Plague Scare in Russia: Lab Researcher Dies, 200 Quarantined Amid Pneumonia Concerns
- •A death from severe pneumonia in Russia has raised concerns about the dangerous pneumonic plague.
- •The deceased, Daria Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
- •Approximately 197 people have been placed under medical surveillance following her death.
- •Russian authorities have not yet confirmed plague, classifying it as pneumonia with an unknown cause.
- •Reports suggest a test tube with live bacteria may have broken in the lab, but this is unconfirmed by health authorities.
Key Questions Answered
A researcher named Daria Shipilova at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute died from severe pneumonia. Following her death, approximately 197 people who came into contact with her have been placed under medical surveillance.
Russian authorities have not officially confirmed the plague and have classified the case as pneumonia with an unknown cause. While some officials and reports suspect a plague infection due to a broken test tube or travel exposure, public health agencies state the possibility is low.
The United States State Department is monitoring the situation alongside the CDC and other agencies. The US has urged Russian authorities to transparently release accurate information regarding the suspected fatal case.
