Following the death of an employee at a Russian laboratory studying plague and other infectious diseases, dozens of people were placed in isolation. The death occurred at the Siberian Anti-Plague Research Institute in the city of Shelekhovo.
According to data from Rospotrebnadzor, a 28-year-old woman who worked as a laboratory assistant at the Siberian Anti-Plague Research Institute in Irkutsk died after being diagnosed with pneumonia of 'unknown' origin. The agency overseeing infectious diseases in Russia attempted to minimize the link between the researcher's death and his professional activities.
Rospotrebnadzor stated that no microorganisms related to the employee's duties were found in samples taken from the patient, and added that the 'epidemiological situation' in the region remains stable.
Nevertheless, the head of the agency, Anna Yurievna Popova, arrived in Irkutsk on Friday, according to local governor Igor Kozzev, to hold an emergency meeting of the regional anti-epidemic commission. Kozzev reported on Telegram that the meeting was related to a 'suspicious case of a highly dangerous infection affecting a resident of the region.'
The institute where the researcher worked told CNN by phone on Monday that it does not comment on this incident.
Anti-epidemic Measures
Maxim Modin, the mayor of the Shelekhovsky district in eastern Russia, near the Mongolian border, announced that regional authorities are implementing a 'complex of anti-epidemic measures.'
According to Modin, the hospital facility where the patient was located was placed in quarantine, and several departments stopped accepting and discharging patients. Local media also reported the closure of other hospitals in the region.
The woman's death was officially confirmed by officials last week. Ekaterina, a resident of Shelekhovo, told CNN on Monday that there are no visible changes in the city, but local residents are anxious. She noted that her acquaintances are slightly panicking.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed shock at the news. The independent regional news resource Liudi Baikala unofficially reported that about 200 people are under observation.
Modin specified that no cases of infectious diseases have been registered among the institute's staff in the last ten days, and all recent contacts of the employee are undergoing testing and examination.
In its sole comment regarding the incident, the Kremlin stated that people should only trust updates from the official agency. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday: 'One should rely on official statements from Rospotrebnadzor, and not listen to various rumors and speculations.'
Deadly, But Not Easily Transmitted
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist from the World Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization, told CNN that although pneumonic plague is fatal, it is not very contagious, and the disease requires exposure to a high viral load. She emphasized that this differs from respiratory illnesses such as COVID.
Rasmussen added that endemic plague exists among wild animals in some parts of Siberia. According to the website, the Anti-Plague Institute employs about 95 researchers and is a major public health institution responsible for monitoring and preventing outbreaks of high-risk bacterial and viral infections across Siberia and the Russian Far East.
Alexey Tsydenov, head of the neighboring republic of Buryatia, had previously stated that the employee might have died 'possibly from plague.' He also noted that there are 'no plague outbreaks' in Buryatia.
Pneumonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The other two types are usually spread through contact with infected fleas, animals, or infected tissues.
At the aluminum plant near the laboratory, employees were instructed to wear masks as a preventive measure. Artem Fominikh, director of the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant, noted that 'contradictory reports' are circulating and called for calm.
Former head of Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko stated on Friday that the infection in the Irkutsk region is 'most likely not plague, but even if it is confirmed, the spread of this disease will not occur.' Onishchenko told the state information agency TASS that the onset of cold weather would likely prevent transmission.
A representative of the U.S. Department of State told CNN on Sunday that they are aware of a possible death from pneumonic plague in Russia. He added: 'We are closely monitoring the situation jointly with the CDC and our other interagency partners. Many details are not yet confirmed. We urge Russian authorities to share accurate information promptly and openly.'
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients with pneumonic plague develop fever, headache, weakness, and 'rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes blood or watery sputum.'
The World Health Organization notes that plague has a high mortality rate, but it is also easily treatable with antibiotics.