Russia completes plague lab contact checks after worker's death

Key facts

• Russia has completed health checks on all contacts of a lab worker who died from pneumonia.
• Nearly 5,000 laboratory tests from contacts showed no dangerous pathogenic microorganisms.
• Russia's health regulator denied reports of a second person falling ill.
• The deceased worker was employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
• The World Health Organization requested more information from Russia regarding the case.

Russia has concluded health checks on all individuals who came into contact with a laboratory worker who died from pneumonia at a plague research facility in Siberia, according to statements from the state health watchdog and the regional governor. The authorities reiterated that no dangerous pathogens were detected in nearly 5,000 laboratory tests conducted on these contacts, aiming to resolve concerns about a potential outbreak.

Russia's health regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, denied reports circulating on social media that a second person had fallen ill following the death of the 28-year-old lab employee, Daria Shipilova, at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute. Officials stated that Shipilova died from an unknown type of pneumonia, and that no relevant pathogens were found in anyone who had contact with her. They also noted she was vaccinated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been investigating reports of a second infection linked to the institute. While initially estimating the public risk as low, the WHO stated it could not conduct a fuller risk assessment due to insufficient information from Russian authorities. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeated a request for verification of media reports concerning a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.

Health Canada is monitoring the situation but perceives no risk to Canada, noting the last recorded human case of plague in the country was in 1939. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also stated the risk to the U.S. was extremely low but that the agency was prepared to monitor and screen travelers.