Russian authorities have denied reports of a second case of pneumonic plague linked to an anti-plague research institute in Siberia, calling the claims circulating on social media false.
The Russian state-run
TASS news agency, citing the press service of the relevant authorities, reported that information about a second person contracting pneumonic plague was untrue.
The claim had suggested that an individual who came into contact with an employee of the Irkutsk anti-plague institute had subsequently developed the disease.
The clarification comes amid international concern over the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, who had been associated with the Irkutsk anti-plague institute.
Death Of Lab Worker Raises Concerns
Russian authorities have maintained that Shipilova did not die from plague. Officials said she died from pneumonia of unknown aetiology, while post-mortem examinations found no evidence of an infection connected to her professional work.
Local media reports had earlier suggested that she may have been exposed to plague after a test tube broke inside the laboratory. The reports have not been independently confirmed.
The incident has nevertheless prompted concern over a possible infectious disease outbreak, particularly because of reports that people who may have come into contact with the affected individuals were placed under observation or isolation.
The World Health Organization has also been in contact with Russian authorities over the situation. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had urged Moscow to clarify media reports concerning a second employee from the institute who was suffering from pneumonia of undetermined cause.
WHO Seeks Clarification As Russia Says Situation Is Stable
Russia’s consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said the situation in the Irkutsk region remained stable. Authorities said nearly 5,000 tests had been carried out and none had detected dangerous pathogens.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also dismissed reports surrounding a possible second case, saying that much of the information being circulated by the media was false.
Despite the official reassurances, uncertainty has fuelled rumours in Shelekhov, the town where the affected institute is located. Residents told AFP that a lack of clear information had contributed to anxiety and confusion.
One resident, who was in hospital for observation when a woman died there last week, said patients were temporarily prevented from entering or leaving the facility. Another resident said her relative working at the anti-plague institute had been quarantined.
Residents Seek More Information
While the town remained outwardly calm, residents expressed concern about how the suspected infection could spread and how it was being detected.
Authorities have introduced precautionary measures, including contact tracing and restrictions around the hospital where the woman had been treated. Schools have also reportedly introduced mask requirements in some cases.
US President Donald Trump has offered to assist Russia and said he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the reports.
For now, however, Russian authorities continue to reject claims of a second pneumonic plague case, while international health officials are seeking greater clarity over the circumstances surrounding the deaths and illnesses linked to the Irkutsk institute.
