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This is Svetlana Bronnikova from the independent media outlet 7x7. In early October, residents of Irkutsk Oblast, a region in Siberia in eastern Russia, began discussing a possible outbreak of pneumonic plague. The concerns were sparked by the death of a 28-year-old employee of an anti-plague research institute. Authorities restricted operations at several hospitals and placed around 200 people who may have come into contact with the woman in isolation. The head of Rospotrebnadzor made an urgent trip to the region. At the same time, officials denied that the woman had died of plague. How did Russians react to reports of a possible plague outbreak, and what did the authorities do? Read on to find out.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

From Pneumonia to Suspected Plague: What Happened in Irkutsk

On the night of October 2, 28-year-old Darya Shipilova died at a hospital in Shelekhov, about 20 kilometers from Irkutsk. She worked as a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, a state research center that studies particularly dangerous infections, including plague.

According to the media outlet People of Baikal, Shipilova first developed cold-like symptoms while at work. Initially, she did not have a high fever, but her condition soon worsened. She was hospitalized on September 29 and died three days later.

After her death, claims emerged on social media that Shipilova had contracted pneumonic plague in the laboratory. Irkutsk journalist Pavel Stepanov claimed that she had allegedly broken a test tube containing the infectious agent and concealed the incident. Other sources linked the possible infection to Shipilova’s trips to Buryatia, a republic neighboring Irkutsk Oblast, or abroad.

None of these accounts have been confirmed. Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian government agency responsible, among other things, for controlling the spread of infectious diseases, says Shipilova developed pneumonia of unknown origin. However, the agency has not published detailed test results that would conclusively explain her death.

Pneumonic plague is the most dangerous form of plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Unlike other forms of plague, it can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs. Without prompt treatment, the disease can be fatal within days. However, antibiotics are effective, particularly when administered at an early stage.

It was the suspicion of such an infection that prompted a large-scale response from public health authorities. As early as October 1, Shelekhov District Hospital restricted patient admissions and discharges. After Shipilova’s death, around 200 people who may have come into contact with her were placed under medical observation. They included relatives, colleagues, and hospital staff.

One employee of the anti-plague institute told People of Baikal that Shipilova’s colleagues were kept inside the building for three days. Medical workers took swabs from them twice a day. They had to sleep on chairs and coats because there were not enough beds for everyone.

As of October 8, authorities had not confirmed a single case of plague. However, they had still not provided a comprehensive public explanation of what caused the researcher’s death.

Officials Delete Posts About Plague

On October 2, Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev reported a suspected particularly dangerous infection but did not specify the disease. That same day, Anna Popova, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, made an urgent trip to the region.

She held a meeting with local officials, doctors, and law enforcement officials. The participants agreed on measures to prevent the possible spread of the infection. Visits to patients at hospitals in Irkutsk and Shelekhov were restricted, while specialists began examining people who had come into contact with Shipilova.

At the same time, officials made contradictory statements. On October 2, Alexey Tsydenov, the head of neighboring Buryatia, wrote on his Telegram channel that the woman who had died of plague in Irkutsk Oblast had not visited the republic. He later edited the post, changing the wording to say that she had “possibly died of plague.”

On October 3, the administration of Baikalsk, a small town on the shore of Lake Baikal in Irkutsk Oblast, advised residents to avoid traveling to Shelekhov because of the dangerous infection. Two hours later, officials deleted the post. REN TV, a major Russian federal television channel, also removed several posts about a possible plague outbreak from its social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Irkutsk City Hall postponed a citywide volunteer cleanup, a day when residents voluntarily clean streets, parks, and courtyards, because of the unfavorable epidemiological situation.

However, as early as October 4, Rospotrebnadzor said that the case involved pneumonia of unknown origin. The agency denied that there had been an accident at the laboratory and maintained that the epidemiological situation in the region remained stable.

Three days later, Rospotrebnadzor said its specialists had conducted nearly 5,000 laboratory tests and found no dangerous infectious agents. By that point, more than 90% of the people who had come into contact with Shipilova had completed their period of medical observation. Doctors found no signs of a dangerous infectious disease in any of them.

Two commissions also inspected the anti-plague institute and, according to Rospotrebnadzor, found no violations in the handling of pathogenic microorganisms. The agency said there was no threat to residents of Irkutsk Oblast.

The World Health Organization (WHO) requested additional information from Russian authorities about Shipilova’s death. The WHO also sought information about reports of a possible second case involving another institute employee. A second case of plague has not been officially confirmed.

WHO representatives stressed that they needed complete information to accurately evaluate the situation. At the same time, the organization assessed the risk of the infection spreading beyond Russia as very low. 

Masks, Antibiotics, and Everyday Life: How Russians Reacted to Reports of a Possible Plague Outbreak

The first reports of a possible plague outbreak alarmed some residents of Irkutsk and Shelekhov. People began looking for antibiotics that doctors use to treat the dangerous infection.

According to the media outlet People of Baikal, some pharmacies sold out of suitable antibiotics, while others said the drugs would not be available for several more days. At the same time, some pharmacies refused to sell antibiotics without a prescription, while certain drugs had already been unavailable even before rumors of plague began to spread.

One of Shipilova’s colleagues told journalists that customers at some pharmacies even argued over the medications. According to her, people became frightened when they heard about pneumonic plague.

The uncertainty also affected those who lived near Shipilova. People of Baikal journalists spoke to her neighbors, who said that shortly after her death, people wearing protective suits and gas masks arrived at the building and began treating the premises with chemicals.

According to one neighbor, the smell was so acrid that residents had to open the doors to the apartment building. When asked what was happening, the workers initially said that a young woman had died of a dangerous infection. Later, during another round of treatment, one of the workers said they were dealing with cockroaches.

This made the neighbors suspicious. They did not understand why their building was being disinfected repeatedly, while no one clearly explained what Shipilova had died of or whether there was any risk of infection.

Another resident told journalists that doctors regularly called her to ask how she was feeling but did not explain why she was being monitored.

Hospital restrictions added to the anxiety. Starting October 3, some medical facilities in Irkutsk stopped allowing visitors. Food and other necessities had to be passed to patients through security staff.

However, there was no mass panic across the region. In Shelekhov, after the first reports of the infection, people continued to walk with their children, go to shops and cafes, and teenagers rode their bikes. Most passersby were not wearing masks.

At the Irkutsk Aluminum Smelter, a major industrial facility in Shelekhov, however, management required employees to wear medical masks. Workers took them off only after leaving the plant grounds.

Many residents reacted to the news with skepticism. Some dismissed talk of plague as mere rumors, while others did not rule out the possibility of danger but were unsure what information to trust. Passengers flying from Irkutsk told journalists they had not noticed any additional checks at the airport.

Meanwhile, various accounts of what had happened circulated on social media, ranging from an accident at the laboratory to speculation that authorities were concealing the real diagnosis. The fact that officials had edited their social media posts and some media outlets had deleted reports mentioning plague only fueled further discussion.

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