A 28-year-old laboratory technician has died in Russia’s Siberian region of Irkutsk after reportedly contracting pneumonic plague, prompting quarantine measures for more than 200 people and the reported closure of five hospitals.
The technician, identified as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov. Local media reports said she may have been exposed to live plague bacteria after accidentally breaking a test tube while collecting samples for testing.
Technician dies after severe pneumonia
Shipilova was admitted to hospital in Shelekhov on September 29 after developing symptoms of severe pneumonia. Her condition reportedly worsened and she was placed on a ventilator before her death on October 1.
More than 200 people who may have come into contact with her have since been placed under quarantine. Public events in Irkutsk have also reportedly been cancelled as authorities carry out containment measures.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev initially described the situation as a suspected case of a "particularly dangerous infection" and appealed to people to remain calm.
However, on Sunday, he said the case involved pneumonia of unknown etiology.
"Microorganisms associated with her professional activities were not detected in the patient's samples," he wrote on Telegram.
Kobzev also said no infectious disease-related cases had been reported among employees of the institute. He said all contacts of the patient had been identified, examined and placed under medical observation, with daily laboratory testing.
Authorities step up monitoring
The governor said on October 2 that he had met the head of Russia's consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, to coordinate emergency measures.
"Rospotrebnadzor is implementing a full range of anti-epidemic measures," he said.
Alexei Tsydenov, governor of neighbouring Buryatia, said on October 2 that a woman in the Irkutsk region had "possibly died of plague". He added that there were "no plague outbreaks" in Buryatia.
What is pneumonic plague?
According to the WHO, pneumonic plague is the most dangerous form of plague and affects the lungs. It can cause severe breathing problems, coughing and blood-tainted sputum.
Symptoms can develop rapidly, sometimes within 24 hours. The infection can spread between people through respiratory particles.
"Untreated pneumonic plague, if not diagnosed and treated early, can be fatal," the WHO has said.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, with recovery rates high when treatment begins promptly, preferably within 24 hours of symptoms appearing.