Russia Tests 60% of Contacts, Finds No Plague After 28-Year-Old Irkutsk Lab Worker's Death
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Oct 6
Russia Tests 60% of Contacts, Finds No Plague After 28-Year-Old Irkutsk Lab Worker's Death
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 6
Summary
Russia said plague has not been detected among close contacts of the 28-year-old Irkutsk anti-plague lab worker who died last week, with 60% of the identified group tested so far.
Rospotrebnadzor said testing instead found two Covid-19 cases and two rhinovirus infections, and its probe found no incidents involving the handling of pathogenic microorganisms.
WHO said Russian officials reported no plague case in Irkutsk and no high-threat pathogen among the woman's contacts, while awaiting confirmation of what pneumonia-causing pathogen killed her.
Nearly 200 contacts were reportedly placed under medical observation after the death triggered quarantine at a local inpatient facility, though regional officials denied online claims of broader emergency restrictions.
The case drew U.S. attention after reports of suspected pneumonic plague, prompting State Department contacts with Moscow and CDC monitoring, even as officials said there was no broader threat to the United States.