Russian plague lab researcher dies of pneumonia of ‘unknown’ origin, nearly 200 under observation

Russian authorities are investigating a suspected laboratory incident in Siberia after a 28-year-old worker at an Anti-Plague Research Institute died from pneumonia of unknown origin, according to CNN.

The incident took place at the institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk, Russian state-run news agency TASS reported. The exact pathogen involved remains unclear, with Russia's federal infectious disease agency Rospotrebnadzor saying the worker had been diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology”.

Rospotrebnadzor said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, including Irkutsk and Shelekhov, remained stable. It said special measures had been introduced in connection with the case.


The death has nevertheless raised concerns about a possible case of pneumonic plague. Alexei Tsydenov, head of neighbouring Buryatia, said the woman had died “possibly from the plague”, while stressing that there was no plague outbreak in the republic.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev also urged people to remain calm after an emergency meeting of the regional anti-epidemic commission with Russia's chief state doctor. He described the meeting as being linked to a suspected case of a “particularly dangerous infection”.

Additional precautions have been introduced in Shelekhov. An aluminium plant near the research institute asked its employees to wear masks.

Artem Fominikh, head of the Irkutsk Aluminium Plant, also urged people not to panic, saying there were “many rumours and conflicting reports circulating”.

“All identified close contacts are under medical supervision. At present, they show no signs of the disease, and their laboratory test results are negative,” Fominikh said.

Unverified reports from local outlet Liudi Baikala, cited by CNN, said nearly 200 people were being monitored at the Shelekhov medical facility where the laboratory worker was treated. The publication also reported that isolation measures had been introduced at least one maternity hospital in the area.

Gennady Onishchenko, a former head of Rospotrebnadzor, said the infection was “most likely not the plague”. He added that even if plague were confirmed, he did not expect the disease to spread.

Pneumonic plague is one of three forms of plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Unlike other forms, which are generally associated with infected fleas, animals or tissues, pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can spread between people through respiratory droplets.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms can include fever, headache and weakness, followed by rapidly developing pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing, sometimes accompanied by bloody or watery mucus.

(With ANI inputs)