A 28-year-old laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia has died after developing severe pneumonia following a reported laboratory accident. The incident occurred at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk.
Reports suggest that the worker may have accidentally broken a test tube containing Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. However, Russian health authorities have not officially confirmed that plague caused her death.
Nearly 200 People Under Observation
Following her death, authorities placed nearly 200 people under medical observation, while several medical facilities introduced quarantine measures. Officials have also taken additional precautions to prevent any potential spread.
So far, none of the people under observation have shown symptoms or tested positive, according to regional authorities.
Officials Urge Calm
As per mediasnews, the worker was diagnosed with pneumonia of “unknown aetiology” before her death, while reports linked her illness to possible pneumonic plague exposure. The publication also noted that the alleged laboratory accident has not been independently confirmed.
Meanwhile, Russian health authorities have described the situation in the Irkutsk region as stable. Therefore, despite the concerns surrounding the incident, there is currently no confirmed wider plague outbreak.
Why the Case Matters
Pneumonic plague can spread through respiratory droplets and requires prompt medical treatment. Consequently, authorities have increased monitoring and introduced precautionary measures while investigating the circumstances surrounding the worker’s death.