Russia rejects plague reports as WHO monitors Siberian pneumonia death

Russian authorities have rejected reports that a laboratory worker in Siberia died from pneumonic plague, saying tests instead indicate pneumonia of unknown origin. International health agencies are monitoring the case because the woman worked at an institute that studies dangerous pathogens in a region where plague occurs naturally among wildlife. The worker, identified by Euronews as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, was employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.

She was admitted to hospital in late September and died on Friday night. Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said samples found no microorganisms connected to her professional work and denied that official anti-plague measures had been imposed. Authorities have nevertheless identified and monitored her contacts.

Reports cited by Euronews put the number under observation or quarantine at between 189 and 197, while more than 60 institute employees were effectively confined at the facility for several days. Hospitals in Irkutsk also faced restrictions, according to regional and international reporting, although officials have not publicly explained every measure. The World Health Organization said Russian authorities had reported no dangerous infectious disease pathogens among the contacts and that none had developed symptoms at the time of its update.

WHO assessed the risk as moderate to low in Irkutsk, low across Russia and very low in the wider European region. The organisation said its assessment could change as more information becomes available. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said testing was still under way to determine whether pneumonic plague caused the death.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control likewise told Euronews that plague had been suspected but not confirmed. The US is monitoring the situation, while Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have strengthened health precautions or preparedness at their borders. Conflicting accounts have circulated inside Russia.

The head of neighbouring Buryatia initially said the woman had died from plague before changing the wording to “possibly plague”. Irkutsk authorities also posted, then deleted, a message advising residents not to travel to Shelekhov, the satellite town where the woman was treated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged people to rely on Rospotrebnadzor and ignore rumours.

Unofficial theories have suggested either an accidental breakage of a laboratory test tube or exposure during field research in an area with natural plague reservoirs. Specialists cited by Euronews questioned whether a test-tube accident was likely given the institute’s sealed equipment, protective clothing and decontamination procedures. Officials have not confirmed either explanation.

Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Its pneumonic form infects the lungs and can spread through respiratory particles, but early antibiotic treatment can be effective. Russia’s most recent confirmed human cases were recorded in the Altai region between 2014 and 2016.

For now, the diagnosis in Irkutsk remains unconfirmed, and WHO says no infection has been detected among contacts.