Russian lab worker's plague death fears: What we know and don't know

A 28-year-old lab technician in Irkutsk, Russia, died from pneumonia of unknown cause, prompting fears of pneumonic plague exposure, though Russian authorities report no evidence linking her death to pathogens she worked with. The woman, reportedly Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, which studies plague and other dangerous diseases. Dozens at her hospital have been quarantined, and contacts placed under medical supervision, amid regional governor speculation about plague. Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is treatable with antibiotics and rarely fatal today, with most cases in Africa. Global health bodies are monitoring, and neighboring countries have raised border alerts, though no wider outbreak risk is indicated.