WHO cannot confirm cause of death in Russian lab worker case

The World Health Organization said on Saturday that it still cannot independently confirm what caused the fatal pneumonia of a 28 year old Russian woman who worked at a Siberian disease research laboratory, the Washington Examiner reported. Darya Shipilova died on October 2, two days after being hospitalized while working at the Irkutsk Anti Plague Research Institute in Siberia. [1]

According to the Washington Examiner, the death led to the quarantine and medical observation of nearly 200 Russian citizens. The publication noted that initial laboratory results for all identified contact persons came back negative, and none showed signs of illness. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev claimed preventive measures were finished and that no dangerous pathogens were discovered following the death. The World Health Organization requested additional details from Russian officials regarding the case, as well as information about a potential second suspected case of pneumonic plague. [9]

Pneumonic plague is a severe lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, with symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain that typically appear three to seven days after exposure. The World Health Organization is an agency of the United Nations that coordinates international public health responses. [5][7]