A laboratory in Siberia, Russia, that studies dangerous infectious diseases such as plague, recently experienced a death of a staff member, which caused concern about the possibility of pneumonic plague infection. Although the Russian side stated that over 5,500 tests have been conducted and no dangerous pathogens were found, the World Health Organization still believes that the exact cause of death remains unknown and further investigation is needed.
According to a report by The Associated Press on October 10, the World Health Organization issued a formal statement regarding the incident, stating that it is currently impossible to determine the cause of death of the young laboratory worker. There were earlier unverified reports suggesting that the deceased might have been infected with pneumonic plague, but Russian health authorities said no plague infections had been identified.
The incident occurred at the Siberian and Far Eastern Institute for Pest Control in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia. According to WHO reports, the worker was hospitalized on September 29 due to severe pneumonia and died on October 2.
Reuters previously reported that the deceased was 28-year-old laboratory worker Daria Shipilova. Since her workplace was involved in research on high-risk pathogens such as plague, preventive epidemic measures were quickly taken in the area after the incident occurred. Approximately 200 related contacts were quarantined for observation.
Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague that primarily affects the lungs and can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. If not treated promptly, it can be life-threatening, but early use of antibiotics usually leads to effective treatment.
The Russian side stated that various pathogens have been tested on the deceased and those who had contact with them, including plague and other high-risk pathogens. No evidence of infection was found in the results.
According to WHO reports, Russian health authorities have conducted over 5,500 laboratory tests, and no dangerous pathogenic microorganisms were found. No symptoms were observed in those who were in contact with the affected individuals, and no new severe pneumonia cases related to this incident were reported.
The Russian side also stated that the deceased had been vaccinated with relevant vaccines in accordance with work requirements, and no high-risk pathogens related to their research work were detected in their bodies. Neither of the two independent investigations found any evidence of laboratory biosafety incidents at the research institute.
However, the WHO emphasizes that although current information indicates that the outbreak is not spreading, it is still impossible to completely rule out the possibility of exposure related to laboratory work, as the pathogens responsible for the deaths have not yet been clearly identified.
WHO stated that it is necessary to obtain further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory testing information in order to improve the reliability of risk assessment of the event.
After the incident, some media reported that there might be a second suspected infected person. The Associated Press pointed out that these claims come from British and Serbian tabloids and have not been confirmed. Russia has denied the existence of a second case.
The WHO report on the 10th also noted that, based on information provided by Russia, no signs of sustained spread related to this incident have been found. However, continued attention will be paid to the progress of the investigation.
WHO also warns that countries should strengthen monitoring of severe respiratory infections of unknown causes and ensure that laboratories dealing with dangerous pathogens strictly adhere to biosafety and infection control standards.
