Russian researcher who studied plague died of mysterious illness: What to know
A 28-year-old lab technician in Russia’s far east working on research at the country’s Anti-Plague Institute died of “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” on Thursday, triggering a public health lockdown involving the quarantining of 200 other people.
TL;DR
- A 28-year-old lab technician at the Anti-Plague Institute in Russia's far east died of "pneumonia of unknown etiology."
- The death triggered a public health lockdown and the quarantine of 200 people.
- Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's public health agency, concluded that no accident occurred at the facility and found no microorganisms related to the technician's work in her biological samples.
- Officials, including Governor Igor Kobzev and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, urged calm and stated the situation was under control.
- Countries bordering Russia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, increased border controls.
- The U.S. is aware of the situation and monitoring the outbreak.
- The article references a past incident in Koltsovo where a researcher died from Marburg virus and the virus was allegedly turned into a bioweapon.