Russian officials say Irkutsk anti-plague lab worker Darya Shipilova, 28, died of ‘pneumonia of undetermined aetiology’ – not plague – after ‘broken vial’ rumours
Putin’s officials have insisted the much feared plague situation is “stable” despite extraordinary quarantine measures that fuelled global alarm. Darya Shipilova, 28, a laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, died on October 2, dies of severe pneumonia, according to the Kremlin.
Her death sparked global panic, with independent outlets and local reports claiming she had accidentally dropped and smashed a test tube containing live Yersinia pestis – the bacterium that causes plague – while collecting samples.
Because she rapidly developed acute respiratory symptoms, fears mounted that it could be pneumonic plague, the deadliest airborne form that can spread between people via droplets. But the Governor of the Irkutsk Region, Igor Ivanovich Kobzev, attempted to calm the storm in a lengthy Telegram statement posted on Monday (October 5), saying official tests found no link to any lab pathogens. However, theories of a cover up ordered from the top levels of Russia’s government have continued to swell online.
“I see all your questions and comments regarding the current sanitary-epidemiological situation in the region,” he wrote. “I would like to clarify the state of affairs once again.”
Kobzev said Russia ’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, had concluded its investigation. Kobzev consequently added: “Specialists conducted extensive laboratory tests; the results indicate that no microorganisms linked to the young woman’s professional work were found in her biological samples.”
He further stated the official cause of death was “pneumonia of undetermined etiology”, meaning doctors could not identify the exact origin. Despite that reassurance, the response on the ground was anything but low-key.
Around 200 close contacts were reportedly placed under strict medical isolation or quarantine, parts of Shelekhov District Hospital were cordoned off, masks were mandated at a local aluminium plant, and staff at the anti-plague institute were effectively locked down inside the facility. Kobzev insisted there had been no further cases linked to the institute.
“Importantly, no new cases of employees from the anti-plague institute seeking medical attention have been reported in the days since,” he wrote.
“The sanitary-epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and the Shelekhov District is currently stable.”
International concern flared as well, with reports that the World Health Organisation pushed Moscow for transparency amid claims a second employee had fallen ill.
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they were monitoring developments “closely”, while neighbouring Mongolia tightened surveillance at its border.
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