Live CCTV cameras in Irkutsk, the Siberian city at the centre of a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak, have revealed residents going about their daily routines despite local quarantines and isolation measures. The footage, broadcast on Tuesday afternoon (October 6), shows people walking the streets, vehicles filling roads and car parks, and locals waiting at traffic lights.
Quarantine and restrictions in Irkutsk
The measures were implemented after 28-year-old laboratory technician Daria Shipilova died following the breaking of a test tube containing a plague pathogen at an anti-plague research institute in the city. Nearly 200 people, including 60 workers at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East, have been quarantined, while three to five hospitals have enforced restrictions.
The cameras, which provide 24/7 coverage of major streets, bridges and highways, show the Moscow Gate, a historical arch on the banks of the Angara River, positioned on the main highway toward Moscow, busy with traffic. Other cameras on Sergeeva Street, a major commercial thoroughfare, and Partizanskaya Street in the city centre also show busy traffic.
Officials downplay outbreak
Russian authorities have officially attributed Shipilova's death to "pneumonia of unknown origin". Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged citizens to ignore online "rumours and speculations" regarding the outbreak, stating that testing of Shipilova's biological samples has failed to detect any pathogens or microorganisms linked to the plague. A biological safety team sent to inspect the facility concluded no emergency or protocol breach had occurred, conflicting with local media reports suggesting the victim was infected after dropping and breaking a test tube.
Alexey Tsydenov, head of the neighbouring Buryatia republic, initially said her death was tied to the plague, but later changed his wording to state she died "possibly from the plague". Officials in the nearby town of Baikalsk posted travel warnings urging people not to travel to the affected area, but these were deleted shortly after.
International monitoring
The US Government has confirmed it is actively monitoring the situation. President Donald Trump called it a "big problem for Russia", while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident is a "cause for focus" rather than alarm. In the UK, health officials have been advised to stay alert amid concerns over the possibility of Russia weaponising the disease, though Downing Street has yet to release an official public statement.
