Russian Institute of Epidemic Prevention suspected of leaking pathogens, female researcher died, may be involved in plague

The Epidemic Prevention Research Institute in Serekhov, Irkutsk Region, Russia, is suspected of having an infectious agent leaked. A female researcher died of an "unknown pneumonia", which some sources suggested may be the plague. Diagram of the plague pathogen. (AFP)

The Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, Irkutsk Region, Russia, was suspected of leaking infectious agents. A female researcher died of "unknown pneumonia", causing panic among the locals.

According to "CNN", the Russian state-run media "Tass" reported the incident. Russia's Consumer Rights Protection and Health and Epidemic Prevention Supervision Service (Rospotrebnadzor) stated that it is not yet clear what substance leaked, but it also emphasized that the epidemiological situation in Irkutsk Oblast and Sherekhov City is stable.

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Rospotrebnadzor pointed out that special measures have been taken for cases at the Epidemic Prevention Institute, and one researcher has indeed been diagnosed with unknown pneumonia. The leader of the neighboring Republic of Buryatia, Aleksey Sambuevich Tsydenov, revealed that the 28-year-old woman may have died from the plague.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev called on the public to remain calm and said that the regional epidemic prevention committee had held a special meeting with Russia's chief national physician regarding the case.

The aluminum factory near the laboratory requires employees to wear masks to prevent infectious diseases. Unofficial sources such as independent news media Liudi Baikala pointed out that nearly 200 people are under observation at the Sherekhov Hospital where the researcher is admitted, and at least one obstetrics and gynecology hospital in the city has implemented isolation measures.

The U.S. State Department has learned that there may be deaths from "pneumonic plague" in Russia. This is one of three types of plague caused by "Yersinia pestis". The other two are mainly spread through infected fleas and animals. However, pneumonic plague can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pointed out that patients with pneumonic plague will develop fever, headache, fatigue and other symptoms, and rapidly develop into pneumonia, resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and other phenomena. The United States is paying close attention to the development of the epidemic in Russia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that plague has a high mortality rate, but it is easily curable with antibiotic treatment and preventive measures can be taken to stop infection.