Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at a plague research institute in Siberia, died last Friday two days after falling ill. Russian authorities have stated she died from pneumonia of an as-yet unestablished origin. However, reports suggest she may have become infected after an accident at her workplace, where dangerous pathogens are studied, with some claims indicating the cause was pneumonic plague.
Russian officials say the situation is stable and that no cases of plague have been detected among individuals who had contact with the technician. About 60 percent of the identified group has been tested so far. While authorities are investigating the unexplained respiratory infection, experts say the disease is treatable with antibiotics and is unlikely to spread widely.
The World Health Organization has requested more information from Russia, stating that transparency is vital to obtain a clear picture of potential health risks. Although WHO officials said they do not have the full picture, the organization has described the risk of an epidemic in Russia as low and the risk outside the country as very low. The United States has also demanded transparency as the WHO monitors the situation.