Pneumonic Plague Symptoms Explained After Russian Scientist's Death
The disease can be fatal but is treatable if detected early, according to health authorities.
A Russian laboratory worker, identified as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, reportedly died after contracting pneumonic plague, according to media reports. Shipilova worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute near Siberia's Irkutsk and was hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms. She reportedly broke a test tube containing live bacteria, leading to her fatal diagnosis.
Pneumonic plague, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the most serious form of the disease and can be transmitted from person to person through inhalation of infectious droplets. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, rapidly developing pneumonia, and shortness of breath, among others.
The pneumonic plague case in Russia has prompted precautionary measures by health authorities, though it has not been confirmed if the worker died from the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for transparency and additional information from Russia regarding the incident. Former White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has called for more information, but if the case is isolated, it may not result in further fatalities.
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