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Russia Plague Outbreak Fears Rise After Lab Worker Death
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News18•06-10-2026, 20:18
Russia Plague Outbreak Fears Rise After Lab Worker Death
- •A 28-year-old laboratory worker named Darya Shipilova died of pneumonia of unestablished origin at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East.
- •Russian authorities quarantined nearly 200 people under observation at a hospital following the incident, though officials insist the situation is under control.
- •The World Health Organization stated that the public health risk to the general population appears to be low, with no reported symptoms among monitored contacts.
- •The pneumonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium endemic to Siberia's wild mammal populations and their fleas, which can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
Key Questions Answered
The 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, died last week at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East from pneumonia of as-yet unestablished origin.
Russian authorities have quarantined nearly 200 people under observation at a hospital, and Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, flew into the Irkutsk region to take control of the situation.
The World Health Organization stated that the public health risk to the general population appears to be low based on available information, with no signs of a wider outbreak.
