CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Moscow. Concern has grown over a possible plague infection after the death of a female employee of an anti-plague research institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, Russia. Twenty-eight-year-old Darya Shipilova had been admitted to hospital with symptoms of severe pneumonia.
After her death, about 200 people were placed under medical observation and anti-infection measures were taken at some health institutions. Local reports claimed the employee had broken a vial containing a test sample with plague bacteria in the laboratory on September 25. After this, she reportedly developed symptoms of serious illness.
However, there has been no official confirmation of the alleged laboratory accident. Russia’s consumer health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has said the woman was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown cause” and that tests did not confirm any pathogenic microorganism linked to her profession.
Following the case, monitoring of people who came into contact with her was started in the Irkutsk and Shelekhov areas. According to officials, those under observation have so far shown no symptoms of illness, and the available test reports have been negative. The regional administration has appealed to people not to pay attention to rumours and to remain calm about the situation.
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Its form affecting the lungs, pneumonic plague, can spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person. According to the World Health Organization, plague can be treated if it is identified in time and antibiotic treatment is given.
Based on the official information currently available, a widespread plague outbreak in Russia has not been confirmed. An investigation is continuing amid differing reports about the alleged lab accident and the cause of death.
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