Death of Laboratory Technician in Irkutsk Raises Concern about Epidemic

The death of a woman working as a laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in the Siberian region of Russia, as a result of a suspicious infection on the night of October 2, raised concerns about a laboratory accident and epidemic.

'HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN TEST TUBE'

According to the news in the Russian press; While 28-year-old institute employee Darya Shipilova was diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown origin, it was claimed that the researcher came into contact with a broken test tube containing the "Yersinia pestis" bacteria that causes the plague. Some media outlets claimed that the young laboratory technician fell ill after returning from a business trip. It was reported that approximately 200 people were kept under medical observation as a precaution.

'SOURCE IS UNKNOWN'

The Russian Human Health and Consumer Rights Protection Service confirmed that Shipilova died due to pneumonia of unknown origin. Despite this, it was emphasized that no accidents occurred while working with infectious microorganisms at the institute and that no one among the institute employees applied to health institutions with complaints of infectious diseases in the last 10 days. It was also stated that detailed examinations were carried out on the samples taken from Shipilova, but that the disease that caused death did not indicate any microorganism related to the employee's professional activities. It was reported that the public health situation in the Irkutsk region was "stable".

'SHARE THE CORRECT INFORMATION'

The allegations, which were reflected in the public, also spurred the US administration into action. Speaking to the US press, a US State Department official said, "We are aware of the news about a suspected case of pulmonary plague that resulted in death in the Irkutsk region of Russia. We are following the situation closely in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other institutions." Pointing out that many details have not yet been finalized, the official said, "We call on the Russian authorities to share accurate information with the public quickly and openly. Plague is a known disease and can be treated with common antibiotics, especially when treatment is started early. Cases occur naturally in many parts of the world."

IT CAN CAUSE DEATH