Young Woman Dies at Russia’s Anti-Plague Lab.. Plague Concerns Spark Alarm

The death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, has raised international questions after she died under unclear circumstances. Russian and local media reports said Shipilova was admitted to hospital on September 29 and died on October 2. Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said she had pneumonia of unknown origin and that no dangerous pathogens linked to the laboratory were detected in her body. However, reports emerged suggesting that she may have accidentally been exposed to a pathogen during plague research, including an unverified claim that a test tube containing plague bacteria had broken.

Reports said more than 60 laboratory staff members were placed in isolation and several people who had contact with Shipilova were put under medical observation. Additional precautions at some hospitals further fueled speculation. Russian authorities, however, have told the World Health Organization that no plague cases have been recorded in Irkutsk and that dangerous pathogens were not detected among Shipilova’s contacts. The WHO has assessed the public-health risk outside Russia as very low based on currently available information. US President Donald Trump has also said he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the incident. The cause of Shipilova’s death and whether any pathogen was involved will depend on the final laboratory findings.