Russia’s Response to Suspected Plague Outbreak Under Scrutiny - Newsweek

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked authorities in Russia for information surrounding the circumstances of the death of a woman who was suspected of contracting the plague.

The death of Daria Shipilova, 28, who worked at a plague research institute in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, around 2,600 miles east of Moscow, was followed by the quarantining of hospitals and dozens of people being placed under observation, according to Russian media reports that are unconfirmed by Russian authorities.

Russia's public health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, has not confirmed the death as a case of the plague and its explanation of the death as being from a "pneumonia of unknown etiology" appears at odds with sources quoted by Russian Telegram channels, as much remains unexplained about the report.

In a statement to Newsweek on Monday, the WHO said it was aware of reports that a laboratory worker in Irkutsk had “died of severe pneumonia,” but that “to date, no cause of death has been officially confirmed, and laboratory testing is reportedly underway.”

“Based on unofficial information available, the public health risk to the general population appears to be low,” the statement added. “The risk assessment will be updated once more information is available.”

A European Commission spokesperson said Europe is monitoring the case “very closely” and is in touch with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Politico reported.

The U.S. State Department told Newsweek it was "aware of ​reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia" adding: "We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly."

Newsweek has also reached out to Rospotrebnadzor for comment.

Russia’s media environment is tightly controlled by the Kremlin and there are discrepancies between the explanations of the case from Russian officials, state-run outlets and independent Telegram channels.

Shipilova worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, which researches and carries out anti-epidemic work on dangerous infections.

Founded in 1934 as an institute for plague control, the institute expanded to work with diseases like cholera, anthrax, and tularemia.

Reports have emerged that Shipilova broke a test tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25, although this incident remains unconfirmed.

The WHO lists three main clinical forms of plague infection—bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. It says that pneumonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is usually found in small mammals and their fleas.

Shipilova was hospitalized at the Shelekhov District Hospital, Irkutsk, on September 29 with severe pneumonia and died overnight on October 1, according to reports.

A former colleague said that, according to Siberia Realities, the Siberian service of the U.S.-government-funded outlet Radio Liberty, relatives were told by doctors that her symptoms were from a severe form of COVID, and she was connected to a ventilator.

Reports in Russia also referred to the patient’s expertise in the plague bacillus. According to state-backed REN TV, Shipilova had studied the body's immune response to the infection caused by the bacteria.

She was also among the authors of the report released in March about the impact of antibacterial drugs on Y. pestis.

Alexei Tsydenov, the head of Buryatia—a Russian republic that neighbors the Irkutsk region—was the first official to mention the plague, rejecting reports that Shipilova had visited the republic before she fell ill.

However, Siberia Realities reported Tsydenov's initial post, “the woman who died of plague in the Irkutsk region did not come to Buryatia,” was later edited to “a woman who may have died of the plague.”

Since October 2, staff at the institute where she worked have been isolated in the building, according to sources who spoke to Siberia Realities.

One source, who said a relative worked at the site, told the outlet that 60 people are in the building, and the lack of beds means they must sleep on the floor or on chairs. Food parcels brought by family are allowed through checkpoints.

Meanwhile, the Telegram channel People of Baikal reported that there are quarantines in place in four hospitals and one maternity hospital in Irkutsk.

A mask mandate was introduced at the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant in the city district of Shelekhov on Saturday according to its director, who referred to “the situation in our territory in which many rumors and contradictory information are being spread.”

One source told People of Baikal that doctors in Irkutsk are "already openly talking about the plague” although such a diagnosis is not officially listed in the documents sent to the hospitals.

The head of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s chief sanitary doctor, Anna Popova, arrived in Irkutsk on October 2 and met with regional health authorities to discuss “a particularly dangerous infection,” local news outlet IRK.RU reported, without mentioning the plague.

An operational action plan was approved, and Rospotrebnadzor announced anti-epidemic measures, according to the outlet.

The WHO told Newsweek that all of the patient’s contacts had reportedly been identified and were being monitored for illness, and none, to date, have shown symptoms of illness.

Rospotrebnadzor also rejected reports about a laboratory accident, saying on Sunday that an investigation did not find any emergencies at the institute when working with pathogenic microorganisms.

The Russian health watchdog also said that studies of Shipilova's biomaterial did not reveal microorganisms linked to her job and those who were in contact with her have not reported any infectious diseases.

The WHO said that in accordance with Articles 9 and 10 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), WHO is in contact with the Russian health authorities to verify the event, its circumstances, the laboratory tests underway, and their results.

The WHO has also asked Russian authorities about the rationale for contact-tracing and the health status of contacts, as well as any potential international public health implication.

“WHO has offered support if needed,” the statement said.

The U.S. State Department said that it was monitoring the situation closely with the CDC (Center for Diseases Control) and our other interagency partners.

“Many details have not been confirmed,” it said, “plague is a known disease and is treatable with common antibiotics, especially when treatment starts early. Cases occur naturally in many parts of the world.”

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martynhere.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly, Geoffrey Rowland and Cristina Diciu.