Plague epidemic risk in Russia low after death of lab technician, WHO says
The World Health Organization has assessed the risk of a plague epidemic in Russia as low following the death of a 28-year-old lab technician in Siberia. While authorities are investigating the cause of death, they have implemented strict quarantine measures at the research facility where the technician worked.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about biosafety protocols in high-security research laboratories handling dangerous pathogens.
Darya Shipilova, 28, worked at a research institute in Siberia that studies dangerous pathogens including the plague. Photograph: Social Media Darya Shipilova, 28, worked at a research institute in Siberia that studies dangerous pathogens including the plague. Photograph: Social Media Russia Plague epidemic risk in Russia low after death of lab technician, WHO says World Health Organization detects no sign of further outbreak since Darya Shipilova died last week
Prefer the Guardian on Google The World Health Organization has said the risk of an epidemic in Russia is lowafter the sudden death of a lab technician who worked at a plague research institute in Siberia.
Darya Shipilova, who was 28, died last week, two days after falling ill. Russian media reports suggested she may have become infected after an accident at her workplace , where dangerous pathogens are kept and studied.
Also covering this story
11 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Russia hospitalizes almost 200 people after researcher's death from plague: Reports - CNBC
Plague outbreak in Russia? Hundreds quarantined after death of lab researcher
Scoop: White House monitors suspected plague outbreak in Russia - Axios
Woman dies of plague in Siberia: regional official
US 'watching closely' after plague researcher dies in Russia, Rubio says
Dozens quarantined in Siberia after plague institute lab worker dies
Russia's pneumonic plague scare: Nearly 200 quarantined after lab worker's death
Russian researcher ‘dies of plague released by lab accident’
Mass quarantine issued in Russia after unexplained death of plague researcher
Did a Russian lab worker die from pneumonic plague? What we know - and don't know
Russian Researcher Dies Of Plague, Hundreds Quarantined, 5 Hospitals Shut
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in