Russia's suspected pneumonic plague case: what to know

A suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia has raised concerns after a researcher at a Siberian institute died of unexplained pneumonia, with reports suggesting possible exposure to the plague bacterium. No official confirmation has been made, and other workers are under quarantine. The 28-year-old researcher, Daria Shipilova, died on October 2 after developing pneumonia, possibly linked to a broken test tube containing Yersinia pestis on September 25, though this is unconfirmed. Russia's health agency reported no microorganisms associated with her work were found in samples. Pneumonic plague can be fatal within 24 hours untreated but is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. The WHO recorded 3,860 suspected plague cases globally from 2019 to 2025, mostly bubonic. Neighboring countries report no cases, while the US is monitoring the situation.