CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Lab Worker’s Suspicious Death in Russia Puts 200 Under Watch
Moscow. The death of a 28-year-old woman employee of an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia, has triggered concern in the health department. The woman died after developing severe pneumonia. After this, nearly 200 people who came into contact with her have been placed under medical observation. Precautionary measures have also been taken at several medical centres.
Local reports claimed that the woman was infected after a test tube containing plague bacteria broke while she was working in the laboratory. However, Russia’s health watchdog has not confirmed this claim. According to officials, the investigation has found no evidence linking the woman’s illness to any pathogen connected with her laboratory work. The cause of death is currently being described as pneumonia of unknown origin. The woman was admitted to hospital in a serious condition, where she died during treatment. People who came into contact with her are being tested. According to initial reports, plague infection has not been confirmed among those kept under observation. Some people have been found to have common infections such as Covid-19 and rhinovirus.
The case has raised concern because pneumonic plague is a serious form of plague and can spread through droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. However, according to the World Health Organization, based on the available information, the public health risk to the general population is currently considered low. Health officials in Russia are monitoring the case, and investigations are continuing to determine the actual cause of the illness. For now, the possibility of plague infection spreading from the laboratory has not been officially established.
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