Nearly 200 people are under medical observation in Russia’s Irkutsk region after a laboratory worker died from an unspecified form of plague, according to regional authorities and media reports.
Death prompts quarantine and cancellations
Alexei Tsydenov, head of the neighbouring republic of Buryatia, confirmed that the woman had died from an unspecified form of plague, The Moscow Times reported. However, Tsydenov said “there are no plague outbreaks in the republic, including in areas bordering Mongolia.”
Russian media outlets identified the woman as Daria Sh., a 27- or 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk anti-plague institute. Reports said she told medical staff she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples for testing. She was hospitalised on Tuesday with symptoms of severe pneumonia, placed on a ventilator, and died on Thursday.
Isolation and investigation
The Shelekhov district hospital was placed under quarantine. At least 197 people were isolating, according to The Moscow Times. Public events have been cancelled in Irkutsk, and an investigation was launched.
Igor Kobzev, governor of the Irkutsk region, said: “All identified contact persons have been placed under medical observation. As of today, the contacts show no signs of illness, and their laboratory test results are negative.”
