Five hospitals in Irkutsk, Siberia, have been placed under a minimum three-week quarantine following the death of a laboratory worker from an unspecified form of plague, with nearly 200 people under medical observation.
The incident occurred at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute on September 25, when 28-year-old lab technician Darya Shipilova reportedly broke a test tube containing live Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for plague. The illness has since spread from affecting one hospital to five.
Quarantine Measures and Mask Mandate
According to independent media outlet Baikal People, the affected medical facilities include City Clinical Hospitals Nos. 1, 3, and 10, alongside the Ivano-Matreninskaya City Children's Clinical Hospital. Media reports indicate that nobody is permitted to depart from or visit relatives at any of the designated hospitals.
A mask mandate, similar to those enforced during the Covid pandemic, has been implemented at the large aluminium plant in Irkutsk. The Moscow Times reported that Alexei Tsydenov, head of the neighbouring republic of Buryatia, confirmed the woman had died from an unspecified form of plague.
Expert Views and Political Reactions
Dr Richard Hirschon said on X: "Pneumonic Plague cannot become a global pandemic , it is far too lethal, person-to-person spread is inefficient, it is airborne in droplets but not aerosolised.
"Distant spread is very unlikely. We have good prophylactic antibiotics."
Some US politicians are now calling for commercial flights to and from Russia to be suspended until the situation becomes clearer. There are also claims that ambulances carrying contacts for examination have been accompanied by FSB officers, Russia's federal security service.
Current Status and Monitoring
The first symptoms of pneumonic plague typically emerge around 4 to 7 days following exposure. Healthcare authorities in the region have confirmed that nearly 200 individuals are currently under medical supervision.
Citing a healthcare sector source, Baikal People reports that medical professionals in Irkutsk are "already openly talking about the plague." The governor of Irkutsk, Igor Kobzev, sought to calm the situation last Friday.
