Irkutsk hospitals quarantine contacts after anti-plague institute worker dies

On Oct. 5, Russian officials said health conditions remained stable in Irkutsk, neighboring Shelekhov and the surrounding region following the death of Darya Shipilova, who worked for Irkutsk's anti-plague research institute. Her death prompted quarantines, medical monitoring of contacts and precautions at hospitals and a local industrial plant, while officials said her illness was pneumonia of undetermined origin.¹²³⁴

Death followed by conflicting accounts

Local media identified Shipilova as a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the institute. Meduza reported that she was admitted to hospital on Sept. 29 and died two days later in Shelekhov. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s public-health watchdog, said special measures followed a case of pneumonia whose cause had not been established; laboratory analysis found no microorganism associated with her professional duties.¹²³⁴

Media accounts raised the possibility of pneumonic plague, but no hospital document cited by Meduza contained that diagnosis. One account said Shipilova became ill after returning from Thailand, while another alleged that she broke a test tube containing the plague pathogen. These reports have not been confirmed. Alexey Tsydenov, the head of neighbouring Buryatia, initially referred to a woman who had died of plague before changing his wording to say she may have done so.¹²

Rospotrebnadzor said there had been no accident involving pathogenic microorganisms at the institute. The institute’s commission and the watchdog also concluded that there had been no emergency or security failure. According to The Moscow Times, no other institute employee had reported an infectious-disease complaint during the preceding 10 days.¹²⁴

Quarantines and local precautions

Accounts differed over the breadth of the restrictions. Meduza reported that several Irkutsk hospitals entered three-week quarantines and closed, while Euronews said several hospitals were quarantined and the Central District Hospital in Shelekhov was shut. The Moscow Times, by contrast, reported that hospitals in the area were maintaining their usual schedules except for measures in specific locations.¹²⁴

Euronews reported that more than 60 institute employees were isolated inside the building and that ambulances carrying Shipilova’s contacts for examination were accompanied by FSB officers. Parts of the Shelekhov hospital were cordoned off, according to The Straits Times, while the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant instructed workers to wear masks. Regional authorities also posted and later removed advice against travelling to Shelekhov, Euronews reported.³⁴

Governor Igor Kobzev said all identified contacts had been examined and placed under medical supervision. The Moscow Times reported that close contacts were receiving daily laboratory tests and that quarantined relatives might be released the following week. Meduza, citing Izvestia, said 197 people were in quarantine as of Oct. 2 and that Rospotrebnadzor reported no signs of illness among them.¹²³

Official and international response

Kobzev met Anna Popova, Russia’s chief public-health officer, amid reports of a suspected dangerous infection; The Straits Times reported that Popova travelled to Siberia for an emergency meeting. Kobzev also said no additional institute employees had sought medical attention. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directed questions to Rospotrebnadzor’s official statements.¹²³

The United States and European authorities were monitoring the reports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the situation warranted attention but was not considered a cause for alarm. A European Commission spokesperson said the commission knew of reports concerning an apparent Russian laboratory incident involving a pathogen that causes plague.²