An unidentified virus has leaked from a laboratory in Siberia, Russia, leaving a 28-year-old technician dead and nearly 200 people under medical isolation.
The incident reportedly occurred at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk.
The deceased, identified by local media as Darya Shipilova, worked as a laboratory technician at the facility.
Russia’s federal consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said Shipilova died on October 2 after being diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause.
According to regional outlet Liudi Baikala, Shipilova told medical workers that she accidentally broke a test tube containing live biological samples while collecting specimens for testing on September 25.
She reportedly became ill while on a field expedition with other workers near Russia’s border with Mongolia.
Shipilova was admitted to hospital on September 29 with severe pneumonia and placed on a ventilator before she died between October 1 and 2.
However, Russian authorities have not confirmed that a test tube was broken at the laboratory.
Reports also said further testing of samples detected no microorganisms linked to Shipilova’s work, while the institute reported no recorded accidents involving pathogenic microorganisms.
At least 197 people who may have had direct or indirect contact with Shipilova were reportedly placed under medical isolation, with more than 100 monitored in hospital wards.
Several hospitals in Irkutsk, including City Hospitals No. 1, 3 and 10, were reportedly placed under quarantine, alongside a children’s hospital and a maternity facility in Shelekhov.
An aluminium plant near the laboratory also instructed workers to wear masks as a precaution.
The plant’s director, Artem Fominikh, said there were “many rumours and conflicting reports” but confirmed that identified close contacts were under medical supervision and had so far tested negative.
A US State Department spokesperson told CNN that Washington was aware of reports about a possible death from pneumonic plague in Russia.
The spokesperson said the US was monitoring the situation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, while urging Russian authorities to provide accurate information.
