We may not know whether Russia is telling the truth until much later.
Russia says there is no plague.
Last week, 28-year-old Darya Shipilova died after developing a mysterious pneumonia. She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, which studies dangerous pathogens including the bacterium that causes plague.
Shipilova died October 2 at the Shelekhov Central District Hospital.
About 200 people who had contact with her were placed under medical observation. Around 60 institute employees were isolated inside their workplace. Shelekhov hospital was quarantined.
Hospitals in Irkutsk restricted visitors. At the city’s perinatal center, pregnant patients were given questionnaires screening them for possible plague exposure.
Local media reported that Shipilova may have contracted pneumonic plague after breaking a test tube. That has not been verified.
Russia says she died of “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” Today it told the World Health Organization that no plague cases have been detected and her contacts have tested negative for dangerous pathogens.
WHO says the public risk is low.
Reuters says one question remains unanswered: whether Shipilova herself was specifically tested for plague, or whether plague has been definitively ruled out.
Russia has a long history of tightly controlling information.
We may not know whether Russia is telling the truth until much later.
Sources
- Reuters: Russia tells WHO there are no plague cases in Siberian city
- Reuters: No plague cases detected in Siberia, Russia says
- Associated Press: Russia reports anti-plague institute worker died of pneumonia from an unknown cause
- The Moscow Times: Irkutsk maternity hospital screens patients for plague
- Meduza: Hospitals in Irkutsk impose quarantines
