Russia plays down plague fears and denies lab accident, says scientist died of

Reports from Russia said researcher Darya Shipilova, 28, died after a possible exposure to plague bacteria at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia. Early accounts claimed she had broken a test tube in September and later developed severe pneumonia.

The reports described her illness as pneumonic plague, a form that affects the lungs and can spread between people. However, Russian authorities have played down the claims and denied that a laboratory accident caused the death.

Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Republic of Buryatia, first said Shipilova had died of plague, then amended his message to say it was only a possibility, according to an independent regional outlet. Local officials had earlier urged people to avoid Shelekhov, where she was treated, based on unconfirmed information.

Russia’s health watchdog said it took measures to limit any possible spread, including testing nearly 200 people who had contact with Shipilova. A World Health Organization spokesperson said the risk to the public appeared low based on information available to the organization.

The cause of Shipilova’s death and whether she contracted plague at work remain unclear in the available reports. Health officials’ investigation and any further findings will help clarify the case.