Moscow: A 28-year-old female laboratory technician has died in Siberia after reportedly contracting pneumonic plague at a specialised anti-plague institute, according to local media reports.
Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, is believed to have been exposed to the infection after a test tube broke at the facility.
Shipilova was admitted to hospital on September 29 after developing symptoms. Her condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly and she was placed on a ventilator. She died two days later.
As many as 200 people who may have come into contact with her have reportedly been placed under quarantine and medical observation.
Authorities said that none of the identified contacts had shown symptoms of the disease so far, while laboratory tests conducted on them have returned negative results.
Alexei Tsydenov, governor of Russia’s neighbouring Buryatia region, earlier confirmed that a woman in the Irkutsk region had died from plague. Officials initially declined to identify the specific disease.
Russia’s Chief State Sanitary Doctor Anna Popova travelled to Siberia to oversee the response, according to reports. A mask requirement has also reportedly been introduced in Irkutsk amid heightened precautions.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said an emergency meeting of the regional sanitary and anti-epidemic commission was held with Popova’s participation following information about a suspected case of a particularly dangerous infectious disease.
“All identified contacts have been placed under medical observation,” Kobzev said, adding that there were currently no signs of illness among those contacts.
Meanwhile, Maxim Modin, mayor of the nearby town of Shelekhov, urged residents not to spread rumours or unverified information and to rely only on official sources.
Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague that affects the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, it can be fatal if treatment is not started promptly.
