A laboratory worker, Darya Shibelova, 28, died on October 2 in Shilikhov, Russia, after being hospitalized for three days. Initial reports linked her death to the plague, but Russian authorities later retracted the statement, citing an investigation that found no connection between her death and the plague. Shibelova worked at the Siberia and Far East Institute for Plague Control, raising concerns about a potential laboratory leak.
Following Shibelova's death, several precautionary measures were taken, including quarantining the hospital where she was treated and requiring workers at a local aluminum plant to wear masks. A public event in Irkutsk was also canceled. The governor of the region, Igor Kobzev, announced that Russia's chief health officer had arrived in Irkutsk to investigate a suspected case of a highly dangerous infection.
The Russian media reported that 197 people who had come into contact with Shibelova were being monitored, and some outlets suggested that she may have contracted the plague after breaking a test tube. However, the Russian consumer protection and health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, later stated that Shibelova died from an unknown cause and that tests had not revealed any connection to her work.
The incident drew international attention, with US President Donald Trump stating that the US was monitoring the situation closely and urging Russia to be transparent. The Kremlin responded, saying that people should not jump to conclusions and should rely on official information from Rospotrebnadzor. The agency confirmed that there was no emergency situation at the institute where Shibelova worked.
Despite official assurances, rumors and unverified reports spread on social media, including claims that a man named Viktor Naklony had also died from the plague and that the city of St. Petersburg was preparing for lockdown. However, these claims were not confirmed by local authorities or reputable sources.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the plague is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics and that prompt medical attention is crucial in preventing severe cases and death. The organization also notes that the plague can be spread through the bites of infected fleas, direct contact with infected animals, and respiratory droplets from person to person.
To prevent and control plague outbreaks, the WHO recommends rapid identification of the source of infection, prompt treatment of patients, and protection of contacts and healthcare workers. This includes using personal protective equipment, providing preventive antibiotics, and isolating patients with pneumonic plague to prevent transmission.
Key points
- The Russian authorities have confirmed that there is no evidence of a plague outbreak, but the incident has raised concerns about laboratory safety and the risk of infectious disease transmission.
