Quarantine, unease and rumours: Russian city grapples with plague scare

Last week, a woman died in Siberia, sparking fear of a plague outbreak in Oksana's small Russian town. Oksana, a 35-year-old woman, was part of the hospital staff in Shelekhov when the incident occurred. She recounted being confined to the maternity ward for four days, only to learn of the woman's death. Russian authorities have disputed the cause of death, stating it was pneumonia of unknown origin with no evidence of a plague-related infection, despite post-mortem analysis.

Rumors have taken root in Shelekhov, with people speculating the woman contracted the disease from a lab accident or Covid. Some have even suggested it might be linked to bears, a reference to a popular Russian TV show. This uncertainty has left the community feeling anxious and distrustful of official communication.

The incident has drawn global attention, with the World Health Organization urging Russia to clarify the situation. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed concerns as false information. In Shelekhov, people are largely calm on the surface but remain concerned, with some taking precautions like wearing masks at school. The lack of clear guidance from authorities has left many worried about how to protect themselves, as no one seems to know the nature of the infection or its detection methods.