Second plague death reported after Russian lab worker died in Siberia

WorldHealth & Fitness
7 Oct 2026 • 6:46 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Second plague death reported after Russian lab worker died in Siberia

  • The World Health Organisation is investigating reports of a second possible pneumonic plague case in Siberia following the death of a laboratory technician.
  • Darya Shipilova, 28, died on 2 October after reportedly being exposed to Yersinia pestis at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
  • Senior epidemiologists have cast doubt on official reports that the infection was caused by a broken test tube, citing strict safety protocols.
  • Almost 200 people are currently in medical isolation, while unverified local media report a second fatality displaying severe pulmonary distress.
  • WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged Russian health authorities to provide transparent information to accurately assess public health risks.

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