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Russia's government on Monday played down concerns sparked by reports that a female scientist in Siberia may have died from exposure to plague following
an alleged laboratory accident. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged Russians to rely on official information from Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's state health watchdog, which he described as the “lead agency with expertise in this area.” The researcher was identified by Russian media as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, more than 2,500 miles east of Moscow. Russian reports initially said Shipilova broke a test tube containing plague bacteria in late September, developed severe pneumonia and died on October 1.
Russia Denies Lab Accident As Nearly 200 People Tested
The bacterium involved in the reports is Yersinia pestis, which causes plague. Shipilova was reportedly said to have died from pneumonic plague, a form that attacks the lungs and can cause fever and cough that may become bloody. Unlike bubonic plague, pneumonic plague can spread from person to person and can be fatal.
The head of Russia's Republic of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, initially said Shipilova had died of plague in a post on the state-backed messaging app MAX. He later edited the post to add the word “possibly,” according to the independent regional outlet Lyudi Baikala.
Local officials also initially warned people against visiting Shelekhov, where Shipilova was hospitalized and died, citing “unofficial information” about a human plague case. The warning was later deleted.
Rospotrebnadzor said it had carried out “anti-epidemic measures,” including testing nearly 200 people who had come into contact with Shipilova. The agency said some had tested positive for colds or COVID, but no pathogens causing dangerous infections were found.
The health watchdog also said there had been no accident at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute and attributed Shipilova's death to “pneumonia of unknown origin.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the reports were not a “cause for alarm” but were “cause for focus.” He said the United States was monitoring the situation, adding that there was “very limited travel between the US and Russia.”
Four Neighboring Countries Increase Health Checks
The reports have prompted neighboring countries to strengthen health checks along their borders with Russia.
Kyrgyzstan ordered heightened sanitary controls at all border crossings, with increased epidemiological surveillance of people, vehicles and cargo. Its health ministry said the measures were prompted by reports of a confirmed plague case in Russia.
Kazakhstan said it was monitoring the situation in Irkutsk, taking preventive measures and conducting sanitary quarantine controls at state border crossings. The country shares a 4,750-mile frontier with Russia.
Uzbekistan said it was taking measures to prevent the importation and spread of highly dangerous infections.
Mongolia already has a high-alert status in its border regions with Russia.
The reports have also drawn attention in the United States, with Rubio saying Washington was “watching and monitoring it closely” while stressing that the situation was not currently considered a cause for alarm.
