Russia Says ‘Situation Under Control’ After Plague Reports

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Moscow: Russian officials insist the health situation in Siberia remains fully under control following widespread alarm over reports that a laboratory technician died of pneumonic plague.

Concerns erupted after 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, a worker at an anti-plague institute in the Irkutsk region, passed away. Media reports suggested she may have contracted the fatal bacterial disease from a broken test tube during a laboratory accident.

However, regional governor Igor Kobzev rejected the allegations, stating an expert commission determined the cause of death was pneumonia of undetermined origin. Health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor confirmed post-mortem tests found no pathogens linked to her laboratory work.

Local authorities emphasised that no other institute staff have sought medical treatment, describing the sanitary situation as stable.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced the official stance, advising the public to rely on health agency statements rather than rumors.

According to the World Health Organization, pneumonic plague is the most contagious form of the disease and can be fatal if not treated early. Russian officials maintain that the situation remains under firm expert oversight.