Darya Shipilova, a technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, died overnight Oct. 1–2 after developing severe pneumonia. Nearly 200 contacts were identified, with 189 reportedly hospitalized for observation and five medical facilities placed under quarantine. Reports that she broke a test tube containing plague bacteria remain unconfirmed. Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, denied a laboratory accident and said tests found no pathogens linked to her work.
No secondary plague cases have been confirmed. The World Health Organization said the risk to the general population appeared low, based on unofficial information. The State Department is monitoring the case with the CDC and has urged Russia to share accurate information quickly and openly. Plague is treatable with common antibiotics, especially when treatment starts early.