Russian city grapples with plague scare

A woman in Irkutsk, Russia, died of suspected plague last week, causing panic and confusion. Oksana, 35, was hospitalized during her pregnancy and later learned about the death. Russian authorities claimed she died from pneumonia of unknown cause, denying any connection to her work at the local anti-plague institute. Local media speculated the woman may have contracted the disease after breaking a test tube at the lab.

The incident has raised global concerns about a possible outbreak and prompted criticism of Russia's handling of the situation, reminiscent of past health crises. Rumors circled, with many believing the disease could be a fictitious one from a popular TV show. The town of Shelekhov, where the incident occurred, displayed calm on the surface but a heightened sense of concern among its residents.

Authorities have maintained that the situation is stable, conducting nearly 5,000 tests for dangerous pathogens with no dangerous pathogens detected.