A lab worker at an anti-plague institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia has died, with reports suggesting a suspected case of pneumonic plague. A U.S. official confirmed awareness of the situation and stated that they are monitoring it closely in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners. The official emphasized the need for Russian authorities to provide accurate information promptly.
Alexei Tsydenov, the governor of the Buryatia region, mentioned on October 3 via his Telegram channel that a woman in the neighboring Irkutsk region had died, possibly from the plague. The Russian news agency TASS reported that Rospotrebnadzor, the country's consumer watchdog, stated that the employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute had been diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown aetiology." The agency noted that testing of samples from the patient did not reveal any microorganisms linked to her work.
Pneumonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is typically found in small mammals and their fleas. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the plague is highly infectious and can be fatal if not treated early. Local media identified the deceased as 28-year-old laboratory technician Darya Shipilova. Reports indicate that nearly 200 individuals in the Irkutsk region have been placed under medical observation.