Suspected plague outbreak erupts in Russia after scientist dies — Putin accused of trying to cover it up
A suspected plague outbreak has erupted in Russia — killing a young lab worker, forcing nearly 200 people into isolation and triggering accusations that Vladimir Putin’s regime is trying to keep the infection’s possible spread under wraps.
The alarm was raised in Siberia after a worker at an anti-plague laboratory died of the disease, which killed tens of millions in the medieval Black Death, according to a report from The Moscow Times.
Anna Popova, who heads Russia’s public-health watchdog, then rushed 2,600 miles from Moscow to the Irkutsk region as authorities quarantined a hospital and placed scores of people who had come into contact with the victim under medical observation.
“The situation in Shelekhov, Irkutsk region, where a plague quarantine has been declared, resembles the Wuhan case,” the Russian political insider channel Nezygar warned.
COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China, before spreading worldwide and killing more than 7 million people, according to global health estimates.
So far, however, officials say none of the identified contacts has shown symptoms, and their test results have come back negative.
Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, was the first reported fatality.
She reportedly told medical staff that she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples for testing, according to news outlet Lyudi Baikala, or People of Baikal.
She first fell ill while on an expedition with other workers near Russia’s eastern border with Mongolia.
She was hospitalized in Shelekhov on Tuesday with symptoms of severe pneumonia, placed on a ventilator and died Thursday, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the regional Gov. Igor Kobzev declined to identify the illness, referring to it only as “a dangerous infectious disease” — and canceled all public events in the region.
Kobzev urged the public to remain calm after meeting with Popova to coordinate emergency containment measures.
“All identified contact persons have been placed under medical observation. As of today, the contacts show no signs of illness, and their laboratory test results are negative,” Kobzev wrote on the Telegram message app Friday.
Reports also claimed that antibiotics had run out in the Irkutsk region, prompting frightened residents to seek medical help from pharmacies and other medical facilities.
Popova has not publicly commented on the reported outbreak. But senior Russian epidemiologist Mikhal Favorov disputed the account that a broken test tube caused the infection, calling it evidence of a possible cover-up, according to The Moscow Times.
“It’s laughable,” said Favorov. “Someone working at the anti-plague Institute in Irkutsk wears a protective anti-plague suit. If you break a test tub, the likelihood of infection is actually very low. In short, It doesn’t matter to the general public — they’ll believe the ‘dropped test tube story.'”
Favorov said Popova’s involvement suggested the situation was serious.
“It’s absolutely hair-raising,” he said, adding, “We will not be told what really happened.”
Plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium.
The three main forms are bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic plague. Symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, weakness, shortness of breath and coughing. All forms can be treated with antibiotics, particularly when treatment begins early.
