Archive · 8 Oct 2026
WHO Reports No Recent Plague Cases in Irkutsk Region
A laboratory worker in Irkutsk, Russia, became very sick with pneumonia and died on October 2.
Early news reports suggested she might have caught plague in a laboratory accident.
Russian health authorities told the World Health Organization that no recent plague cases had been recorded in the region.
They said they investigated and took steps to protect people.
People who had contact with the worker were tested and watched by medical staff.
Authorities said no high-threat germs were found among those contacts.
Russia’s health watchdog also said tests found no germs linked to the worker’s job and no laboratory accident involving dangerous germs.
The WHO is asking for more information about what caused the pneumonia and reports of another employee with pneumonia.
The cause has not been established in the reports.
Russian health authorities told WHO that no recent plague cases were registered in Irkutsk oblast.
A laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute died on October 2 after severe pneumonia.
Authorities said they investigated the case, took preventive measures, and tested and monitored identified contacts.
No high-threat pathogens were detected among the contacts; Russia’s health watchdog said tests found no work-associated microorganisms or laboratory accident.
WHO requested more information about the illness’s cause, the pathogen behind the public health measures, and reports of a second employee with pneumonia.
- Who
- The World Health Organization, Russian health authorities, and a laboratory worker who died.
- What
- Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in Irkutsk oblast following the worker’s death; identified contacts tested negative for high-threat pathogens.
- When
- The worker died on October 2; WHO made its statement on Tuesday.
- Where
- Irkutsk oblast, Russia.
- Why
- WHO sought more information to clarify the cause of the worker’s severe pneumonia and assess potential public health risks.
Early media reports and concerns
Official findings reported to WHO
Possible laboratory exposure
Early media reports and concerns
Early reports citing unnamed sources suggested the worker may have contracted pneumonic plague after a test tube broke in the laboratory.
Official findings reported to WHO
Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in Irkutsk oblast; the health watchdog said tests found no work-associated microorganisms and no accident involving pathogenic microorganisms.
Cause of the illness
Early media reports and concerns
Initial reports raised the possibility of pneumonic plague after the worker developed severe pneumonia.
Official findings reported to WHO
The cause of the severe pneumonia was not established in the information reported, and WHO requested further details.
- Worker
- Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory assistant, according to Euronews
- Workplace
- Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute
- Date of death
- October 2
- Reported illness
- Severe pneumonia
- Plague reports
- Russian authorities reported no recent cases in Irkutsk oblast
- Contact findings
- No high-threat pathogens were detected among identified contacts, and medical observation was completed
- WHO request
- Further information about the illness’s cause, the pathogen prompting public health measures, and reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause
