Researcher dies of ‘unknown infection’ at Russian plague lab, at least 200 in quarantine: Here’s what we know so far | Today’s news
Authorities in Russia are now investigating a laboratory incident in Siberia that reportedly resulted in the death of a researcher and the release of a potentially dangerous infection.
According to The Moscow Times, the incident was reported from the Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk.
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Here’s what we know
After the incident, on September 29, a 28-year-old woman was hospitalized in Šelech Hospital with symptoms of pneumonia and was later placed on a ventilator. She died two days later. In addition, hospital staff were quarantined along with the institute. About 200 people were placed under medical supervision at Shelekhov Hospital.
While it was unclear what was released, the woman reportedly died after being diagnosed with pneumonia of “unknown origin,” according to Rospotrebnadzor, the state agency that deals with infectious diseases. The agency said that “the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov, is stable.”
Rospotrebnadzor noted that special measures were taken “in connection with the case of an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute”, adding that the employee was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology” or cause.
While there is no credible information on how the incident occurred, The Moscow Times reports two different reports. One report, citing news reports, said the researcher became infected during her trip to neighboring Buryatsk, where an outbreak of the plague had been reported on the border with Mongolia. Another report said a researcher accidentally broke a test tube containing a dangerous bacteria in a lab while collecting biopsy samples for diagnostic purposes.
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However, the head of Buryatsk, Alexei Tsydenov, noted that the employee died “perhaps of the plague,” adding that no plague epidemic had broken out in the republic.
On October 2, Gennady Onishchenko, the former head of Rospotrebnadzor, ruled out the possibility that the infection was the plague, adding that even if it was, “this disease will not spread.”
Quarantine was also imposed in one of the city’s maternity hospitals.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev called on people to remain calm on October 2 and said that an emergency meeting of the regional anti-epidemic commission was held together with the chief state doctor of Moscow. Kobzev added on Telegram that the meeting was held in connection with a ‘suspected case of a particularly dangerous infection affecting residents of the region’.
The US is monitoring the Russian plague situation
A US State Department spokesman told CNN that Washington is aware of possible deaths from pneumonic plague in Russia. A spokesperson noted, “We are closely monitoring the situation with the CDC and our other interagency partners,” adding, “Many details have not been confirmed. We urge the Russian authorities to quickly and openly share accurate information.”
