Death of Laboratory Worker in Russia Raises Suspicion of Plague

Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory worker working at a plague research institute in Russia, died as a result of a sudden illness. While great concern prevailed in the region following the death, the Russian health authority Rospotrebnadzor did not officially confirm the plague claims, announcing that Shipilova was diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown origin.

However, local sources claim that the young woman accidentally broke a test tube containing Yersinia pestis (the plague agent) during laboratory work and was exposed to the virus. Shipilova, whose condition worsened after the accident, was admitted to a Covid-19 center. Following the incident, approximately 200 people with possible contact were taken under surveillance, and 5 hospitals in the region were quarantined.