Second suspected plague death reported in Russia's Irkutsk region
Russian media report a second death from suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk, days after a laboratory worker died, as the UK's health agency seeks more information.
A second person has died after contracting suspected pneumonic plague at a hospital in Russia's Irkutsk region, Russian media reported, days after a laboratory worker at a plague research institute died of the same suspected illness.
The first death was Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, who was hospitalised on 29 September with severe pneumonia of "unknown origin" and died on 1 October, the Daily Mirror reported. Russian officials said they found no evidence her illness was caused by any of the pathogens she worked with, but media reports suggest she may have accidentally broken a test tube containing live plague bacteria while collecting samples.
Almost 200 people who had contact with Shipilova were placed under quarantine or observation, and several hospitals in Irkutsk were closed, the Daily Mirror said. Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no plague cases had been identified among those who had contact with Shipilova, and that about 60% of those quarantined had since been released.
The UK Health Security Agency said it was seeking further information through International Health Regulations channels to verify the reports, and that the risk to the wider UK population remained "very low," the agency's director of global health protection, Chris Lewis, said. US President Donald Trump said he was watching the situation closely and that the US was ready to help if needed, though he said he had not discussed the matter directly with President Vladimir Putin.
A local governor had cited plague as a possible cause of Shipilova's death, Swiss broadcaster SRF's Russia correspondent said, according to RSI News, though Russian authorities maintain no pathogens linked to her work were found in her body.
What we know
- A second person has died of suspected pneumonic plague in Russia's Irkutsk region, Russian media reported.
- The first victim, laboratory worker Daria Shipilova, 28, died on 1 October after being hospitalised with pneumonia of unknown origin.
- Almost 200 contacts were quarantined and several hospitals were closed; Russian authorities say about 60% have since been released.
- The UK's health agency said the risk to the UK public remains very low, but it is seeking more information.
- Russian officials say no evidence links Shipilova's illness to the pathogens she worked with.
Not yet confirmed
- Whether the illness is officially confirmed as plague has not been established, Russian officials say.
- Details of the second reported death, including who died and when, have not been confirmed.
Why it matters for Europe
Pneumonic plague is almost always fatal if untreated, spreads between people relatively easily and can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. The case has drawn scrutiny because Shipilova worked at a specialist institute researching the disease, and because Russian authorities have a history of downplaying public health problems, prompting international bodies including the WHO and the EU to monitor the situation closely.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 3 countries.
Source balance
PremiumSee how the 3 outlets behind this story spread from left to right, and which are official or OSINT sources.
Free during the launch: create an account →Log inHow we rate sources
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Launch offer: free for members until 31 October 2026
Questions and answers
- Where did the plague cases emerge?
- At a hospital in Russia's Irkutsk region, in Siberia, after a laboratory worker died there.
- How many people have been quarantined?
- Almost 200 contacts were placed under quarantine or observation, with several hospitals in Irkutsk closed.
- Is there a risk to the UK or Europe?
- The UK Health Security Agency says the risk to the UK public remains "very low" but it is seeking more information.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.