WHO Says Siberian Research Worker’s Fatal Illness Remains Undiagnosed

The World Health Organization said the cause of fatal pneumonia in an employee at an anti-plague research center in Siberia has not been determined. Russian health regulators reported negative tests for dangerous pathogens in nearly 5,000 screenings, and no plague cases or secondary transmission were found after quarantines in the Irkutsk region were lifted.

The WHO said the death of a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia still lacks a confirmed cause. Russian regulator Rospotrebnadzor reported negative tests for dangerous pathogens in nearly 5,000 screenings involving the worker and contacts. No plague cases or secondary transmission were found, and monitoring of quarantined contacts ended Oct. 8.

The employee, identified by independent Russian media as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, died between Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 after severe pneumonia. Regional officials called it an isolated community-acquired pneumonia case, while unverified reports had raised concern about possible pneumonic plague exposure. Russian authorities said she had been vaccinated under lab safety rules, and post-mortem tests found no microorganisms tied to her work.

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