A Russian report says a worker at a Siberian plague research institute fell ill and died of an unknown cause
The employee of a plague research institute in Irkutsk died in hospital last week, according to local state television. Authorities have not publicly identified the cause of her pneumonia.
Officials say testing found no microorganisms connected to her work and no incidents involving dangerous pathogens at the institute. The case nevertheless drew attention after unconfirmed media reports suggested pneumonic plague.
The hospital where she was treated has stopped admitting and discharging patients, and its laboratory has paused routine testing. Its outpatient clinic remains open, Mayor Maxim Modin said.
Regional officials say the woman’s contacts are under medical supervision. Russia’s public health chief, Anna Popova, traveled to Irkutsk and met with the governor and other officials.
Authorities reported that two contacts tested positive for a common-cold virus and two for COVID-19; other tested contacts were negative. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the public to rely on official updates rather than speculation.
Key points
- The woman worked at a plague research institute in Irkutsk and died after developing pneumonia of unknown cause.
- Russian testing found no pathogens linked to her work, but unconfirmed reports claimed she had pneumonic plague.
- Her hospital is under restrictions, and officials are monitoring people who had contact with her.