Russia has lifted its quarantine just a week after a lab worker allegedly died from plague. Authorities have declared the health emergency 'over' after nearly 200 people were quarantined and 5,000 tests were carried out following the death of Darya Shipilova.
Researcher's death and official response
The 28-year-old researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia died on October 2 after developing what officials called unexplained 'pneumonia'. The woman reportedly contracted plague after breaking a test tube containing the live bacterium Yersinia pestis at work.
Irkutsk Region governor Igor Kobzev said the situation in the Siberian region was stable after thousands of laboratory tests. He stated: "Medical monitoring of all close contacts has also been completed. No health issues related to infectious diseases have been identified. […] The public health and epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and Shelekhov is stable."
Governor avoids naming victim
During his speech, Kobzev did not refer to Darya by name, instead calling her "the infected" or just an "employee". He did not mention the grieving family or rumours that Darya was to be buried in a zinc coffin to prevent infection.
Speaking on her death, Kobzev stated she "had been vaccinated and had immunity to the dangerous infections she worked with", adding these vaccinations included the plague. He also said: "No accidents involving pathogenic microorganisms were identified at the institute." Kobzev added: "Amid information pressure, specialists thoroughly investigated the situation. It was a test. But we came through it with dignity."
Online rumours of second death
Rumours are circulating online that a second person may have died from plague after contact with the lab worker. Local media allegedly reported the death before the articles were removed, as the Kremlin urged the public to trust "official statements" only. The second death was reported to have occurred at an Irkutsk district hospital.
However, Russia's consumer welfare ministry has denied any new cases and says the information online is "fake", according to news agency TASS.
Plague symptoms and transmission
According to the UK Health Security Agency, Black Death symptoms can include fever, headache, weakness and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. Patients often cough up bloody or watery mucus.
Unlike the more common bubonic form, pneumonic plague can spread directly between humans through infectious respiratory particles, normally requiring close and prolonged contact.
