Nearly 200 people under observation after Irkutsk lab worker dies from plague

abnry

How often does this sort of thing happen? I'm guessing more than we think, either because we forget the news stories we read or because it isn't reported.

helsinkiandrew

So breaks a test tube of live bacteria at an “anti-plague institute”, possible infects 100 colleagues, then when she developed plague like symptoms is taken to hospital and possibly infects 100 patients. I think they need to investigate their safety protocols > She reportedly told medical staff that she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples for testing. > At least 197 people who may have had contact with her were reportedly placed under medical isolation, including more than 100 in hospital wards.

robmusial

I literally just finished Annie Jacobsen's book 'Biological War: A Scenario' last week where the central plot point is an accidental release of modified form of pneumonic plague from a lab in Siberia. Very coincidental timing, especially since it made me wonder how often labs like these have accidents and we never hear about them because it is cleaned up without issue.

hn_throwaway_99

> The woman was identified as Daria Sh., a 27- or 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk anti-plague institute, by the exiled news outlet Lyudi Baikala (People of Baikal) and pro-Kremlin broadcaster REN TV. > She reportedly told medical staff that she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples for testing. This is just weird. Plague is easily treated if antibiotics are given right away. I'm shocked that an anti-plague institute wouldn't have detailed and proactive plans in case of mishaps. Obviously I think it's likely that there is more to it than what's reported in the article, but I would find it truly baffling if within 60 seconds of her breaking that test tube that protocols weren't initiated to protect her, her colleagues and the community. Of course, Russia...

chasil

Yersinia Pestis is normally treated with doxycycline, cipro, or streptomycin. Is this a resistant strain? https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/235627-medication#1

r721

>Oct. 2 Here's a newer CNN story from today: >Researcher at Russian plague laboratory dies of ‘unknown’ infection https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/04/europe/russia-laboratory-... This post from local Irkutsk region media (now in exile) is also interesting: https://t.me/Baikal_People/16651 (in Russian)

ungreased0675

Are we fairly confident that these labs do more good than the risk they present to the public? I’m not sure we should be keeping dangerous pathogens around just for giggles and PhD papers. What are examples of how the research done in these places improves public health?

poilcn

This information that she "broke a tube" is tabloid bs. Non-tabloid version is that she didn't catch it in the lab, she got ill "while being on a research trip to Buryatia region near the border where sources of the disease were found".

TZubiri

>Irkutsk region Governor Igor Kobzev urged the public to remain calm after meeting with Rospotrebnadzor chief Anna Popova to coordinate emergency containment measures. >“All identified contact persons have been placed under medical observation. As of today, the contacts show no signs of illness, and their laboratory test results are negative,” Why is the knee jerk reaction of authority figures to say everything is fine? Be it epidemic risk, or cybersecurity incidents, the spokepeople always output noise in the form of "everything is fine", there's almost no signal

Freedom2

Thankfully I still have a decent supply of ivermectin from HNs guidance during COVID.

chvid

Sounds cartoon-like and unbelievable.