Russia plays down pneumonic plague fears after lab worker’s death

Summary

• Russia on Tuesday said no cases of plague had been confirmed among people who came into contact with a 28-year-old laboratory worker who died last week after developing pneumonia of unknown origin.
• The agency said tests found no microorganisms linked to Shipilova’s professional activities in her biological samples, while Russian authorities have described her cause of death as pneumonia of unknown origin.
• Russian authorities, however, have not confirmed that she had plague and have said her death was caused by pneumonia of unknown origin.

AI Generated Summary

Russia on Tuesday said no cases of plague had been confirmed among people who came into contact with a 28-year-old laboratory worker who died last week after developing pneumonia of unknown origin.

The woman, identified in reports as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia. Her death has prompted quarantines and medical monitoring of people who may have been exposed, amid unconfirmed reports that she may have contracted pneumonic plague at the laboratory.