Russia hospitalizes almost 200 people after researcher's death from plague: Reports - CNBC
Nearly 200 people in Russia's Irkutsk region are under medical observation following the death of a research institute employee from a suspected plague infection. While authorities have not confirmed the presence of plague microorganisms, the situation has drawn international attention and monitoring from the U.S. government.
Why it matters
Potential outbreaks of highly infectious diseases in research settings pose significant public health risks and require international transparency and monitoring.
Nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation in Russia's Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia over suspected exposure to plague, according to local media reports.
The report said 189 people were being monitored following the illness of an employee at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk. Alexei Tsydenov, head of the nearby Republic of Buryatia, said the woman had died from an unspecified form of plague.
Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said Sunday that the employee had been diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown etiology" and that the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov remained stable.
The agency said expanded testing had not detected microorganisms linked to the employee's work.
Also covering this story
9 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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