Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Russian Lab Worker’s Death Prompts Plague Exposure Quarantines
A researcher in Russia died after becoming very sick with pneumonia.
She worked at a laboratory that studies plague.
Reports say she may have broken a tube containing live bacteria, but officials have not confirmed that plague caused her illness.
Health authorities quarantined people who may have been in contact with her.
Reports give different estimates, saying nearly 200 or more than 200 people were quarantined.
Plague is caused by a bacterium and can be treated with antibiotics when found early.
Some forms can spread between people, including through droplets from the lungs.
The quarantine reminded people of steps used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 28-year-old researcher, identified as Darya Shipilova, died after developing severe pneumonia.
She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute and was hospitalized on September 29; she died on October 1.
Officials said she had pneumonia of unknown cause; a plague infection has not been confirmed.
Reports say she told medical staff she accidentally broke a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples.
Hundreds of contacts were quarantined, though reports differ between nearly 200 and more than 200 people.
- Who
- Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old researcher, and people who may have had contact with her.
- What
- Shipilova died of severe pneumonia, and hundreds of contacts were quarantined amid concern about possible plague exposure; plague has not been confirmed.
- When
- She was hospitalized on September 29 and died on October 1; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia's Irkutsk region.
- Why
- Authorities quarantined potential contacts as a precaution after concern that she may have been exposed to infection at the laboratory.
- Researcher
- Darya Shipilova, age 28
- Workplace
- Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute
- Hospitalized
- September 29
- Date of death
- October 1
- Reported diagnosis
- Pneumonia of unknown etiology, according to Rospotrebnadzor
- Quarantine count
- Reports variously say nearly 200 or more than 200 contacts were quarantined.
- Possible exposure
- She reportedly told medical staff that she accidentally broke a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples.