Siberian lab worker's death ruled not plague, Russia says

Russian authorities say the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia was not caused by plague, attributing it instead to pneumonia of unknown origin. Officials have ruled out a lab accident or infection with the plague pathogen. The initial report of plague came from the governor of the Buryatia region, Alexey Zydenow, on Friday. Russia's consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor stated that no microorganisms linked to her professional work were found in patient samples. The woman died Friday at a district hospital in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk. Authorities confirmed no lab accident occurred at the Irkutsk institute, and the epidemiological situation is described as stable. Local reports mention quarantine measures at two hospitals and a children's clinic in Irkutsk, with institute staff quarantined at work. No further infections have been recorded.