US authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation after a laboratory employee in Russia died following suspected exposure to plague bacteria.
The incident was reported from a plague research centre in Irkutsk, in Russia’s Siberian region. A lab technician, identified as Darya Shipilova, was collecting samples for testing on September 25 when she accidentally broke a test tube that reportedly contained live bacteria.
She was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia-like fever symptoms and died on October 1. With plague known to spread rapidly and pose serious risk to life, the episode has raised concerns about potential transmission.
Russia has not publicly clarified whether she was confirmed to have plague, or whether any infection was natural or linked to bacteria handled in the laboratory. Russian officials said there is no evidence so far that she died due to infection during research work, while around 200 colleagues who were in contact with her have been isolated and kept under close observation.
Health information cited in the report notes that plague can be associated with rodents and can spread through the air when an infected person or animal coughs or sneezes. Early antibiotic treatment—ideally within 24 hours of symptom onset—can be effective, while delayed care can lead to death within 18 to 24 hours, according to the World Health Organization.
