Plague Scare in Russia Triggers Quarantine and Global Watch

The death of a 28-year-old lab technician in Siberia has triggered quarantine of nearly 200 contacts amid suspected plague exposure, though the diagnosis remains unconfirmed, with the White House and European Commission closely monitoring the situation. Daria Shipilova died on October 2 after reportedly breaking a tube containing pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25, according to unconfirmed local reports. Russian authorities say she had pneumonia of unknown origin, with no plague microorganism found in samples, while the hospital remains under quarantine. The WHO says no contacts have developed symptoms, and some tested positive for Covid-19 or rhinovirus. Neighboring Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have tightened precautions, while Washington urged Moscow to provide accurate information promptly.