Russia Denies Plague Killed Lab Worker as Quarantines Continue
Russian lab worker Darya Shipilova died last week after a reported accident. The accident was at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute in Siberia.
The Guardian and Financial Times said it may involve plague. Russian authorities denied that she died of plague.
Rospotrebnadzor said tests found no germ linked to her work. Fox News said Russia has not confirmed what killed her.
ABC News said Russian authorities reported pneumonia of unknown cause. Russia imposed quarantine measures in Siberia after her death.
Several hospitals in eastern Russia were under quarantine or closed. More than 60 colleagues stayed isolated inside the institute building.
The head of Rospotrebnadzor traveled to Irkutsk for an emergency meeting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Monday.
He said the US is closely monitoring the case. He said it was cause for focus but not alarm.
Plague occurs naturally in Siberia but human cases are rare. The last recorded case was in 2016.
Key Terms 4
- Rospotrebnadzor Russia's agency for public health and consumer safety.
- Irkutsk A city in Siberia in eastern Russia.
- Pneumonia A lung infection that can make breathing hard.
- Quarantine Keeping people or places apart to stop disease from spreading.