Siberia plague scare deepens as hospital observation and surveillance widen
A plague scare in the Siberian town of Shelekhov has widened after a woman died last week and local residents were kept under observation in hospital. The case has centred on a 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, who was reported to have died after falling ill in the same town. Russian authorities have continued to downplay the episode, saying she died of pneumonia of unknown cause and denying any link to her work at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute.People in the town described being kept inside for days while officials monitored contacts and restricted movement in some parts of the community.... [Continue Reading]
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Russia plague case under close US monitoring as hospital quarantine continues in Irkutsk
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is aware of and closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia, after the unexplained death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital in the Irkutsk region and are tracing the woman's contacts. Local media reports also say nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation.The CDC said the reported case remains unconfirmed, but stressed that plague is a serious bacterial disease that can be treated with antibiotics if recognised early. It said rapid identification and treatment of infected people are... [Continue Reading]
Russia keeps quarantine in place after plague scare in Irkutsk region
Russian authorities have kept quarantine restrictions in place across parts of the Irkutsk region after saying a laboratory assistant who died last week did not have plague. The case is centred on the anti-plague institute in Irkutsk and on nearby hospitals, where containment measures remain in force while testing continues. Officials say the public health situation is stable, but the investigation has not yet fully ended.Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's national health watchdog, said tests of biological material from Daria Shipilova found no microorganisms linked to her professional activity and no accidents involving pathogenic micro-organisms had been detected at the institute. Irkutsk governor... [Continue Reading]

