Russia Quarantines Five Hospitals in Irkutsk After Lab Accident

Russia has quarantined five hospitals in Irkutsk, including a children's hospital and maternity ward, after a researcher died from pneumonia following a lab accident, while authorities remain silent on the pathogen involved. Nearly 200 contacts are under observation. Local media report FSB security service units accompanied ambulances transporting those exposed, though this remains unconfirmed. Officials give conflicting statements, with some suggesting possible plague while Rospotrebnadzor calls it pneumonia of unknown cause and insists the situation is stable. The incident occurred at the anti-plague institute in Shelekhov, where the 28-year-old researcher reportedly broke a test tube containing live bacteria. Pneumonic plague can spread person-to-person but is treatable with antibiotics, and no new confirmed cases have been reported.