Russian lab worker's plague death triggers quarantine in Irkutsk region

Russian authorities have confirmed a stable sanitary situation in the Irkutsk region following the death of 28-year-old laboratory technician Darya Shipilova, who reportedly contracted pneumonic plague after a test tube broke, with up to 200 contacts placed in quarantine. The Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection stated that specific anti-epidemic measures were implemented after Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, was diagnosed with pneumonia of unspecified nature. Tests found no pathogens linked to her work, and no infectious disease cases were recorded among institute staff in the last 10 days. Among those monitored, two Covid-19 cases and two rhinovirus infections were detected, but no other infectious disease pathogens were found. Authorities confirmed no contacts showed health changes related to infectious diseases, while local media reported the quarantine of up to 200 people who may have had contact with the deceased.