Nearly 200 People Under Observation After Irkutsk Lab Worker Dies from Plague
9 hours ago
- A laboratory worker in Siberia's Irkutsk region died from plague after accidentally breaking a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples.
- Nearly 200 people who may have had contact with the worker have been placed under medical observation, with over 100 hospitalized.
- Authorities canceled public events and opened a criminal investigation into health safety violations, while confirming no plague outbreak in the region.
- The infection is suspected to be pneumonic plague, which can spread via respiratory droplets, but officials have not specified the form.
- Governor Igor Kobzev urged calm, stating that all contacts tested negative for the disease as of Friday.