Russian authorities are trying to contain concern in Siberia after the death of a young researcher at an institute specializing in dangerous pathogens, amid conflicting accounts over whether she died from an unexplained case of pneumonia or after exposure to the bacterium that causes plague.
The 28 year old woman, identified by Euronews as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near the Siberian city of Irkutsk. She died in intensive care on Oct. 2. Russia’s federal public health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, said Sunday that she had been diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” meaning that the cause had not been established. The agency said the epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and Shelekhov was stable and that testing had not detected microorganisms connected with her work.
But those assurances followed several days of reports suggesting a much more serious possibility. The head of the neighboring republic of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, said earlier that the woman had died “possibly from the plague,” according to CNN. His statement was later revised to use more cautious language. Local and independent media have also reported that Shipilova may have been exposed while working with live plague bacteria. Regional outlets in Siberia reported at the time, that the researcher she accidentally broke a test tube containing Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, on Sept. 25. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed that account and Rospotrebnadzor has said that no accident involving pathogenic microorganisms was recorded at the institute.
The gap between those versions of events has fueled anxiety in Shelekhov and the surrounding region, where residents have reported seeing people in protective clothing and local institutions have adopted precautionary measures. According to CNN, an aluminum plant near the laboratory instructed employees to wear masks. The plant’s director, Artem Fominikh, said there were “many rumors and conflicting reports circulating” and urged employees to remain calm. Fominikh said people identified as close contacts of the researcher were under medical observation and had shown no signs of illness, with laboratory tests coming back negative. Independent regional outlet Liudi Baikala, cited by CNN, reported that nearly 200 people had been placed under observation at the hospital where the researcher was treated. It also reported quarantine measures at hospitals in the area, including at least one maternity facility. Euronews reported that masks had been distributed in some kindergartens and that several hospitals in Irkutsk had been closed or placed under quarantine.
The official language surrounding the case has shifted repeatedly. Irkutsk Gov. Igor Kobzev said an emergency meeting of the regional anti epidemic commission had been convened over a “suspected case of a particularly dangerous infection affecting a resident of the region,” according to CNN. However it has been reported that officials initially avoided using the word “plague.” A warning by authorities in Baikalsk advising residents not to travel to Shelekhov because of plague was later deleted,
By Sunday, Rospotrebnadzor was offering a more definitive public message. “The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is stable,” the agency said, according to CNN. It said special measures had been carried out because of the illness of an employee at the institute, but maintained that the diagnosis was pneumonia of unknown cause. The agency also said no staff member at the institute had sought medical attention for an infectious disease in the previous 10 days. Gennady Onishchenko, a former head of Rospotrebnadzor, told the state news agency TASS that the infection was “most likely not the plague.” He added that even if plague were confirmed, he did not expect the disease to spread.
The uncertainty has nevertheless attracted attention outside Russia. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told CNN that American officials were aware of reports of a possible death from pneumonic plague and were monitoring developments with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies. “Many details have not been confirmed,” the spokesperson said, urging Russian authorities to release accurate information quickly and openly.
Pneumonic plague affects the lungs and, unlike other forms of plague, can spread from person to person through respiratory particles. The World Health Organization says plague can be fatal but is treatable with antibiotics.
With infomration from: CNN, Euronews
