Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Nearly 200 Monitored After Siberian Lab Worker Dies
A worker at a disease research laboratory in Siberia has died.
Her name was Daria Shipilova, and she was 28.
Local reports said a test tube containing a dangerous germ broke at the lab.
She later became very sick with pneumonia and went to a hospital.
Reports suggested she might have had plague, but health authorities had not confirmed that.
Officials put nearly 200 people who had contact with her under medical observation and quarantined medical facilities.
The governor said those people had no symptoms and their tests were negative as of October 2.
He asked people to rely on official information rather than rumors.
Russian authorities quarantined medical facilities in Siberia and placed nearly 200 people under medical observation after a lab worker died.
The worker was identified as 28-year-old Daria Shipilova, employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East.
Local reports said Shipilova broke a test tube containing a pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25.
She was reportedly hospitalized on September 29 with severe pneumonia and died overnight between October 1 and 2.
Authorities had not confirmed plague; Governor Igor Kobzev said monitored contacts had no symptoms and tests were negative as of October 2.
- Who
- Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory worker, and nearly 200 people who had contact with her.
- What
- Shipilova died after developing severe pneumonia; authorities quarantined medical facilities and placed contacts under observation amid unconfirmed reports of suspected pneumonic plague.
- When
- The reported test-tube break occurred September 25; she was hospitalized September 29 and died overnight between October 1 and 2. Monitoring information was reported as of October 2.
- Where
- The Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia.
- Why
- Authorities took precautionary measures after her death and reports that she may have contracted pneumonic plague.
Reports of Possible Plague
Official Statements and Confirmed Findings
Possible diagnosis
Reports of Possible Plague
Russian media reported that Shipilova may have contracted pneumonic plague, and local reports linked the case to a broken test tube containing the pathogen.
Official Statements and Confirmed Findings
Health authorities had not confirmed plague; local reports cited Rospotrebnadzor describing her illness as pneumonia of unknown etiology.
Risk to contacts
Reports of Possible Plague
Authorities quarantined medical facilities and placed nearly 200 contacts under medical observation as a precaution.
Official Statements and Confirmed Findings
Governor Igor Kobzev said the monitored people had shown no symptoms and their tests were negative as of October 2.
- Deceased worker
- Daria Shipilova, 28
- Workplace
- Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East
- People under observation
- Nearly 200 contacts
- Reported test-tube incident
- Local reports said a tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen broke on September 25
- Hospitalization
- Reportedly admitted September 29 with symptoms of severe pneumonia
- Death
- Overnight between October 1 and 2
- Status of contacts
- No symptoms and negative tests, according to Governor Igor Kobzev, as of October 2
- Diagnosis
- Possible pneumonic plague reported by media; not confirmed by health authorities
