The United States is closely monitoring a possible fatal case of pneumonic plague in the Russian region of Irkutsk, following the death of a 28-year-old worker from the Siberian and Far Eastern Anti-Plague Research Institute. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it is monitoring the situation alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies.
"We are aware of reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in the Irkutsk region, Russia. We are closely following the situation along with the CDC and our other interagency partners," said a State Department spokesperson, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Washington has warned, however, that "many details have not been confirmed" and has urged Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly. The U.S. statement therefore refers to a suspicious case, not to a confirmed outbreak of plague in Russia.
Russia does not confirm that the woman had plague
The official Russian version maintains a different position. Rospotrebnadzor, the federal agency responsible for consumer protection and health surveillance, reported on October 4 that the health and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and in the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov was "stable."
From the agency, they pointed out that the anti-plague institute worker was diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown etiology." The expanded tests conducted on samples from the patient did not find microorganisms related to her professional activity. Rospotrebnadzor also indicated that no incidents related to pathogenic microorganisms had been recorded at the institute.
The discrepancy between the information disseminated about the case and the official Russian diagnosis is the main element of uncertainty. While various media have linked the death to a possible infection by Yersinia pestis, Russian health authorities have not confirmed that the deceased had plague.
A 28-year-old worker and nearly 200 people under surveillance
The deceased has been identified by Russian and international media as Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician. She died on October 2 after developing a severe case of pneumonia and being admitted to a hospital in Shelekhov.
The hypothesis that has given rise to information about a possible plague infection holds that Shipilova would have accidentally broken on September 25 a test tube containing the bacteria causing the disease while working in the laboratory. This version comes from information from local and independent media and has not been confirmed by Russian authorities.
After her death, around 200 people who may have been in contact with her were subjected to medical surveillance or preventive isolation. Regional authorities have also implemented control measures in health centers while the case is being studied. So far, there is no public information confirming a transmission of plague among the identified contacts.
What is pneumonic plague
The plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Its pneumonic form directly affects the lungs and can be transmitted between people through respiratory particles during close contact. The disease can evolve rapidly, although it has antibiotic treatment when administered early.
Precisely because of the characteristics of this form of the disease, the possibility that the worker had been infected has led to the identification and monitoring of people who may have had close contact with her. However, the surveillance measures adopted in Irkutsk do not in themselves constitute confirmation that there is an outbreak.