Everything we know about the suspected plague case in Russia so far

After a technician at an anti-plague laboratory in Siberia died, Russian officials are attempting to calm global concerns.

The World Health Organization told the Associated Press on October 6 that the plague presents a "very low" risk to the broader European region.

That doesn't mean we know everything — or really, much of anything — as of now. While there's no confirmation of a plague outbreak so far, conflicting reports about how the alleged "patient zero" got infected, whether she was infected at work, and Russia's current safety protocols have given some medical experts pause.

As of now, not much is known about Shipilova's cause of death. Still, independent regional news outlet Lyudi Baikala said she was hospitalized on September 29. A friend told CNN that Shipilova died on October 2.

Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's public health watchdog, said that testing Shipilova found "no microorganisms associated with the patient's professional activities" and that she died from "pneumonia of unknown etiology."

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Other colleagues called her "responsible" and described the anti-plague institute as "a serious facility" in terms of safety measures.

Reports from Russian exiled publications — ones forced to operate outside Russia or use decentralized reporting methods — speculate whether Shipilova died from the pneumonic plague.

The Moscow Times, an independent publication located in Amsterdam, reported unconfirmed claims that Shipilova may have broken a test tube containing plague bacteria at the institute before she fell ill.

Reports from Russian state media and independent publications have often clashed, leading to more questions than answers. "The scenario, to me, doesn't fit together," Bhadelia said.

If the reports of a broken test tube were true, an anti-plague institute should have several safety measures in place, such as protective equipment, ventilation, and clear treatment protocols.