The United States is closely monitoring the case of a Russian lab technician who died at a plague research center in Siberia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern that the incident could potentially lead to the spread of pneumonic plague, although he reassured that there is no cause for alarm.
Cause of Death
The governor of Irkutsk, Igor Kobzev, announced that the cause of death was identified as "pneumonia of undetermined etiology". He stated that "no micro-organisms" related to the woman's work had been found in her biological samples. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the woman may have fallen ill after breaking a test tube containing the pathogen or after a field trip to a region where the plague is naturally found among wild rodents.
Health Precautions
Since her death, no other cases of staff from the plague institute seeking medical attention have been reported. The Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's consumer and health watchdog, confirmed that a biological safety team inspected the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk and found no emergency situation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the public to avoid listening to rumors and to rely on official statements from Rospotrebnadzor. Reports indicate that nearly 200 people who had contact with the deceased woman are under medical observation as a precaution.
