Pneumonic Plague: What we know after Russian lab worker dies of ‘unknown’ pneumonia

A 28-year-old lab researcher at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute in eastern Siberia reportedly died due to “pneumonia of unknown etiology.”

The report has sparked concern in the United States, with officials saying they are closely monitoring the situation in Russia as they expressed worry about the possible spread of a pneumonic plague.

What we know so far about the incident

According to Russia’s public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, the 28-year-old, named in local media as Darya Shipilova, worked as laboratory technician at the institute in the town of Shelekhov.

Unconfirmed reports said the woman fell ill after allegedly breaking a test tube containing the pathogen, while other reports suggested that the researcher contracted the disease following a field trip to a region where plague occurs.

Downplaying the link between her disease and her work, Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev  said there were “no  microorganisms associated with the employee’s professional duties were detected in her samples,” adding that the “epidemiological situation” in the region was stable.

Following the reports, the watchdog said a biological safety team went to the institute to inspect the facility and found no emergency situation there.

As a precaution, the institute has reportedly ordered a lockdown, with staff forced to sleep on the floor and on chairs.

A total of 189 people were also placed under precautionary medical observation after they were believed to have been in contact with the woman.

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What is pneumonic plague?

According to scientists, pneumonic plague is considered as the most dangerous infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which killed half the population of Europe in the 14th century.

Y. pestis can cause different types of plague that affect different parts of the body. The most common is bubonic plague, which usually spreads through a flea bite or a cut in the skin and causes painful, swollen lymph nodes.

It can develop into septicemic plague, which infects the blood and may cause organ failure. Pharyngeal plague affects the throat and can happen after eating infected meat.

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How is the plague transmitted?

Experts said the pneumonic plague can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Infected animals can also spread the disease through respiratory droplets.

Symptoms can appear as quickly as 24 hours after infection. They may include severe pneumonia, difficulty breathing, chills, headache, body aches, weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If not treated, pneumonic plague is almost always fatal.

How do doctors treat pneumonic plague?

While fatal, pneumonic plague is treatable. Doctors treat the infection with antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gentamicin, and streptomycin.

Treatment usually lasts 10 to 14 days. Patients have the best chance of survival when antibiotics are given within the first 24 hours.

Supportive care, such as oxygen and fluids, may also be needed.

Although plague vaccines have existed for more than a century, the World Health Organization does not recommend routine vaccination against plague.

Vaccination may be considered for people at high risk, such as laboratory workers who may be exposed to the bacteria.

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US, WHO monitoring the plague

Following the incident, the US said it is closely monitoring the situation, with President Donald Trump saying he is looking “very strongly” at the case.

He said he had not spoken with the Kremlin, but added that the US would help if Russia needed assistance.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was no reason for alarm, but acknowledged that the situation should be watched closely.

The World Health Organization said it was aware of the death of the lab researcher, but said the cause of death had not been officially confirmed.

According to Former White House Covid response coordinator Dr Ashish Jha pneumonic plague is difficult to spread from person to person, making a large outbreak unlikely. 

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