Russia – Concerns grow after the death of the scientist at the plague research institute

MOSCOW, October 6 /ATSH-DPA/ – Russian public health authorities tried to ease concerns over the death of a scientist at a plague research centre in the city of Irkutsk, in Siberia.

The Russian institution “Rospotrebnadzor”, responsible for consumer protection and public health, stated on the Russian platform “Max” that the health and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, as well as in the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov, is calm.

The authorities said that information circulating online, according to which anti-epidemic measures and strict restrictions had been imposed, was false.

“No such decision has been taken so far”, “Rospotrebnadzor” stated.

The 28-year-old researcher, who worked at the Plague Control Institute in Irkutsk, died on Friday in a hospital in the nearby city of Shelekhov.

After her death, suspicions were raised that she may have been infected with pneumonic plague, as a result of an accident in the laboratory.

In a statement on Sunday, “Rospotrebnadzor” rejected claims that an accident had occurred in the laboratory and also denied that the scientist had been infected with plague.

According to the authorities, the cause of death was “pneumonia of unknown origin”.

The Russian news agency “Interfax” reported that tests had not found in the patient any microorganisms linked to her professional work.

The authorities have not announced which causative microorganism (pathogen) caused the pneumonia.

In Irkutsk and Shelekhov, three hospitals, a children’s hospital and a maternity hospital were closed because of this case.

Employees of the plague institute have been placed in quarantine, and are being kept isolated and under observation, to see whether they show signs of infection.

According to the authorities, no other cases of infection have been detected.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have stepped up checks and vigilance at their borders, to prevent the entry of persons who may be infected.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also asked Russia to provide more information about the case.

The measures taken in Irkutsk, a city located about 4,200 kilometres east of Moscow, are being viewed with suspicion.

Concerns have also grown because of the history of Russia and the Soviet Union, where in the past the authorities have been criticised for minimising or concealing the scale of some catastrophes.