According to Russian media, on September 25, 28-year-old Daria Shipilova allegedly broke a test tube containing the pathogen of pneumonic plague while working in a laboratory. Four days later, she was hospitalized, but subsequently passed away. Russian authorities assert that pneumonia was the cause of her death, while media speculations have raised concerns about pneumonic plague.
In response to inquiries from the WHO, the Russian health regulator clarified that there have been no registered cases of plague in the Irkutsk region recently. Tests conducted on Shipilova and all individuals who had contact with her returned negative results for highly dangerous pathogens, and none exhibited any disease symptoms.
Based on the provided information, the WHO stated that it found “no evidence of ongoing transmission of infection related to the incident.”
The primary uncertainty remains the lack of a confirmed diagnosis for the deceased laboratory worker. The WHO will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate any potential public health implications,” the statement read.
Context
- Media reports indicate that concurrent restrictions on information release and an excessive response (in the form of quarantine) by Russian authorities have raised alarms within the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting Washington to send an official diplomatic note requesting information.
- The U.S. Embassy in Russia has urged Americans to leave the aggressor country due to suspected cases of pneumonic plague, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized that plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics, especially if diagnosed and treated promptly.
