Russian health authorities are investigating the death of a 28-year-old laboratory technician in Siberia amid concerns over a possible exposure to the bacterium that causes pneumonic plague.
The technician, identified as Darya Shipilova, reportedly worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East. She died on the night of October 2 at a hospital in Shelekhov after developing what authorities described as pneumonia of unknown origin.
Local reports have raised questions about whether Shipilova could have been exposed to Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague. Some reports claimed she may have broken a test tube containing the pathogen, while other accounts linked her illness to a recent trip to an area where the bacterium can circulate naturally among wild rodents.
However, Russian health authorities have rejected suggestions that the illness was caused by a laboratory accident. Officials said testing had not detected organisms associated with Shipilova’s work.
Despite the official position, authorities reportedly placed nearly 200 people who had contact with her under observation. Hospital measures were also tightened, while some public events were reportedly cancelled as officials sought to determine the cause of the illness.
The development has attracted international attention, with US President Donald Trump saying Washington would be willing to assist Russia if necessary.
Speaking outside the White House, Trump said the United States would help if Moscow needed assistance, describing the disease as a serious one. He added that he had not spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Washington was monitoring the situation. While he reportedly saw no immediate reason for alarm, he stressed the need for close attention because infectious diseases can spread rapidly.
Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague caused by Yersinia pestis. Unlike bubonic plague, which primarily affects the lymphatic system, pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets.
The disease can be fatal if treatment is delayed, but it is treatable with appropriate antibiotics when detected early.
Russian authorities have not confirmed that Shipilova had plague, and there has been no official confirmation of a laboratory accident.
The circumstances surrounding her death and the reason for the precautionary measures remain under investigation.
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