Russia reports a worker at a Siberian plague institute got pneumonia from an unknown cause and died
Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital and are monitoring contacts of an employee at a plague research institute in Siberia who contracted pneumonia of an "unknown" cause. Local state TV said the woman died last week.
A Russian laboratory worker in Siberia died after contracting pneumonia of unknown origin, though no evidence linked her illness to her work environment or laboratory incidents. The treating hospital was placed under quarantine, and her contacts were placed under medical surveillance. No evidence of pathogenic microorganisms associated with her professional activities was found in extensive tests.
While unconfirmed media reports suggested she might have died from pneumonic plague, this specific diagnosis remains unconfirmed. The incident has raised alarm in Russia, with President Trump expressing concern and the U.S. offering assistance. The World Health Organization describes pneumonic plague as a severe form of the disease, caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium usually found in small mammals and their fleas.
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