A lab worker has died in Russia's Irkutsk region and nearly 200 people are under watch, as the White House monitors the suspected plague case.

Updated on: Oct 5, 2026, 04:14:22 IST

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A suspected plague case in Russia has drawn attention after a 28-year-old laboratory worker died following a reported incident involving a live bacterium. Nearly 200 people who came into contact with her have been placed under medical observation.

The White House is also monitoring the situation, Axios reported, although Russian health authorities have not confirmed that the woman had plague. The administration official said the Trump administration “is aware, monitoring the outbreak, and assessing options,” as per Axios.

What happened in Russia?

According to The Moscow Times, a worker at an anti-plague laboratory in Siberia died, and nearly 200 people were placed under isolation.

As per Axios, Daria Shipilova, 28, worked at an anti-plague research institute in the Irkutsk region. Local reports said she broke a test tube containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25.

As per Lyudi Baikala, she reportedly told medical staff that she broke a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples.

Shipilova first became sick while on an expedition with other workers near Russia's eastern border with Mongolia.

She was admitted to a hospital on September 29 with severe pneumonia. She died overnight between October 1 and October 2.

(This story is being updated)

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