Siberian Researcher Dies Amid Suspected Plague Exposure

A 28 year old laboratory researcher working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, Russia, has died after developing severe pneumonia. The incident has raised concerns over possible exposure to pneumonic plague after reports claimed that a test tube containing biological material broke while she was working at the facility. However, Russian health authorities have not officially confirmed that she was infected with plague or that the laboratory incident caused her illness.

Following her death, nearly 200 people who may have had contact with her have been placed under medical observation as a precaution. Officials have said that those being monitored have not shown symptoms and tests reported so far have been negative. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the case, while the exact cause of the researcher’s death remains under scrutiny.