Russian authorities are responding to a laboratory accident in Siberia that resulted in the release of a substance suspected of causing a dangerous infectious disease, resulting in the death of a researcher.
According to Russia’s state-run Mediatas news agency, the incident occurred at the Institute of Epidemiology in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk.
Rospotrebnadzor, the state agency dealing with infectious diseases, said it was unclear exactly what had been announced. One laboratory employee was diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause and is said to have died as a result of the incident.
“The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is stable,” Rospotrebnadzor said.
Rospotrebnadzor added that special measures were taken “in connection with the case of the Irkutsk v. Plague Research Institute employee,” who was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology.”
Alexei Tsydenov, the head of neighboring Buryatia, said earlier that the employee, a 28-year-old woman, had died “probably from the plague.” He also said that “there is no outbreak of plague” in Buryatia.
Governor Igor Kobzev of Irkutsk region called for calm on Friday, saying an extraordinary meeting of the regional epidemic prevention committee was held with Russia’s chief state doctor.
Kobzev said on Telegram that the meeting was related to “suspected cases of particularly dangerous infectious diseases affecting the local population.”
An aluminum factory near the institute told its employees to wear masks as a precaution. Artem Fominik, director of the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant, also called for calm, noting that “many rumors and contradictory reports are circulating.”
“All identified close contacts are under medical supervision. There are currently no signs of infection and laboratory test results were negative,” Fominik said.
Nearly 200 people are under observation at the hospital in Sherekhov, where the laboratory technician was taken, according to unofficial reports, including the independent regional news outlet Liudi Baikala.
At least one maternity hospital in the city has also imposed quarantine, Liudi Baikala said.
The infection in the Irkutsk region is “most likely not a plague, but even if it is confirmed, the disease will not spread,” Gennady Onishchenko, former head of Rospotrebnadzor, said on Friday.
Onishchenko told the state-run TASS news agency that the onset of cold weather is likely to stop infections.
Pneumonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. The other two types are usually spread by contact with infected fleas, animals, or infected tissue. However, pneumonic plague, or lung-based plague, is easily transmitted from person to person through respiratory particles.
A US State Department spokesperson told CNN on Sunday that the US is aware of possible deaths from pneumonic plague in Russia.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with the CDC and other interagency partners,” the spokesperson said. “Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to quickly and openly share accurate information.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pneumonic plague patients develop fever, headache, weakness and “rapidly progressing pneumonia accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery mucus.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told CNN that the CDC is closely monitoring the situation in Russia and that “the safety and security of the American people is our top priority.”
The World Health Organization notes that although plague has a high mortality rate, it is easily treatable with the use of antibiotics and infection prevention measures.
