Russian authorities are grappling with a suspected dangerous infection that was released yesterday following a laboratory accident in Siberia. A researcher has died after contracting the infection. The incident occurred at the Shelekhov Anti-Plague Research Institute, near Irkutsk.
CNN writes that it is not clear what infection emerged from the lab. One person, a lab worker who reportedly died in the incident, was diagnosed with pneumonia of "unknown" origin.
"The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is stable," Russian media reported. The measures were taken after the employee who died was diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown etiology or cause."
The head of the neighboring republic of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, said the 28-year-old worker died “probably from the plague.” He also noted that “there are no outbreaks of the plague” in Buryatia.
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev called for calm, saying an extraordinary meeting of the regional anti-epidemic commission was held with Russia's chief state physician.
An aluminum factory near the lab instructed staff to wear masks as a precaution. The plant director appealed for calm and noted that "there are a lot of rumors and conflicting reports circulating."
Unofficial reports, including from independent regional media, say that nearly 200 people have been placed under observation at the hospital in Shelekhov, where the laboratory technician was sent. One of the city's maternity hospitals has also been placed under quarantine.
The infection in the Irkutsk region “is most likely not plague, but even if it is confirmed, there will be no spread of this disease,” said a former head of Russia’s consumer protection agency. According to him, the onset of cold weather is likely to prevent transmission.
Pneumonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The other two types are usually spread by contact with infected fleas, animals, or infected tissues. But pneumonic plague, or lung-based plague, can be easily transferred from one person to another through respiratory droplets.
Patients with pneumonic plague have fever, headache, weakness and "a rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and sometimes bloody or watery mucus."
The WHO has noted that the plague has a high mortality rate, but is also easily treated with antibiotics and the use of precautions to prevent infections. ©LAPSI.al
