WHO assesses low plague risk after Russian lab worker dies in Irkutsk

Laboratory incident in Irkutsk

On 25 September 2026, 28-year-old laboratory worker Daria Shipilova broke a test tube containing pneumonic plague pathogen at a research institute in Irkutsk Oblast. Four days later, on 29 September, Shipilova was admitted to an infectious disease hospital in the nearby city of Shelekhov with symptoms of severe pneumonia. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to her death during the night between 1 and 2 October. Russian consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announced that post-mortem examinations attributed her death to pneumonia of unknown etiology, adding that laboratory tests did not detect work-related microorganisms in her body.

Quarantine measures and contact tracing

Following Shipilova's death, regional authorities placed five medical facilities and the research institute under quarantine protocols. Relatives were prohibited from visiting hospitalized patients, and 60 of Shipilova's colleagues remained confined inside the research facility from Friday, sleeping on floors and chairs while undergoing diagnostic screenings. In total, approximately 200 individuals who had contact with the researcher were placed under active medical surveillance.

Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev stated that none of the monitored individuals developed symptoms, and all diagnostic tests returned negative results. Elena Sofina, deputy head of the Shelekhov district administration, confirmed that around 60% of quarantined individuals were subsequently discharged as test results ruled out plague infection. Rospotrebnadzor reported that no infectious diseases had been detected among the laboratory workforce across the preceding 10 days.

International monitoring and risk assessment

The World Health Organization evaluated the incident on Tuesday, determining that the epidemic risk was moderate to low in Irkutsk, low across Russia, and very low for Europe. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier addressed the regional containment measures and contact-tracing efforts.

According to the information provided, all individuals who had contact with the patient have been identified and are being monitored for symptoms of illness. So far, none of them have shown symptoms.

In Brussels, the European Commission confirmed that it is monitoring the situation through WHO communication channels and remains in direct contact with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). European Commission spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova noted that plague is a bacterial infection treatable with antibiotics, noting that European Union member states maintain national antibiotic stockpiles alongside European reserves.

We are aware of reports regarding an incident in a laboratory in Russia, related, it seems, to a pathogen causing plague.

Diplomatic exchanges and disease background

In Washington, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that federal agencies are following developments in Russia, while President Donald Trump publicly offered American assistance. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov addressed the proposal during a Tuesday press briefing, welcoming the offer while instructing the public to rely on official communications from Rospotrebnadzor.

It is always good when mutual help is offered.

Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms. Natural endemic reservoirs exist in rodent populations across southern Siberia, northern Mongolia, and the southern United States. Russia last recorded an active plague case in 2016 in the Altai Krai, while Mongolian authorities identified 137 endemic foci across 17 administrative regions in 2023. Between 2019 and 2025, the WHO recorded over 3,800 suspected plague cases and 423 deaths across ten countries.