Laboratory worker dies of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk

A 28-year-old laboratory technician named Daria Shipilova has died from pneumonic plague in Irkutsk, Russia, as reported on October 2, 2026. Shipilova was employed at the local Anti-Plague Research Institute, where she reportedly contracted the highly infectious disease following an accident involving a broken test tube.

Following the incident, local authorities have placed up to 200 people who may have had contact with the victim under quarantine. The governor of the neighboring Buryatia region, Alexey Tsydenov, publicly confirmed the fatality, though the Russian Ministry of Health has yet to issue an official statement regarding the case.

Concerns have emerged regarding laboratory safety protocols at the institute, prompting investigations into the circumstances of the death. While media reports highlight potential institutional negligence, officials have not yet released full autopsy results or identified the specific strain of the pathogen involved. The situation remains sensitive due to the highly contagious nature of the illness and the ongoing quarantine measures enforced to prevent further transmission.