The United States is monitoring reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia after a worker at a plague research institute in Siberia died following severe pneumonia.
The U.S. State Department said it is closely monitoring the situation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies. The department said many details have not been confirmed and called on Russian authorities to quickly and openly share accurate information.
The case involves the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, in Russia’s Irkutsk region. Russian health authorities said an employee of the institute was diagnosed with “pneumonia of an unknown etiology” and later died.
Russian media identified the woman as Daria Sh., a 27- or 28-year-old laboratory employee. She was reportedly hospitalized with severe pneumonia, placed on a ventilator and died Thursday. Some reports said she told medical staff that she accidentally broke a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples.
Those reports raised concerns that she may have contracted pneumonic plague, but Russian authorities have not confirmed that diagnosis.
Russia’s public health agency said extensive testing found no microorganisms linked to the woman’s work in her samples. The agency also said an inspection of the institute found no accidents involving dangerous pathogens.
Nearly 200 people who may have had contact with the woman were placed under medical observation, according to Russian reports. Authorities said none had shown symptoms and their laboratory tests were negative.
A Guardian reporter covering Russia said a woman who visited a maternity hospital in Irkutsk for a routine appointment was checked by staff for possible plague symptoms and asked to complete a form. Experts have stressed that plague can be treated with antibiotics.
Russian officials said the public health situation in the Irkutsk region, including the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov, remains stable. Authorities also put precautionary measures in place while investigating the case.
The U.S. State Department said plague is a known and treatable disease, especially when antibiotics are given early. The department also said plague cases occur naturally in parts of the world.
It remains unknown whether the woman actually had plague, whether she became infected through her work at the institute or whether any laboratory accident involving the bacteria occurred.