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Tengrinews.kz — The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan is monitoring the situation in the Irkutsk region following the death of a 28-year-old employee of a plague research institute. Amid reports of a possible highly dangerous infection, sanitary and quarantine controls have been tightened at the border, with reference to press service of the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health stated that it is tracking the situation in the Irkutsk region, where 197 people were placed under medical observation following the death of a 28-year-old employee of a plague research institute.
Officials also reported that the situation is under constant supervision, and the preliminary risk of the infection being imported into Kazakhstan is assessed as low.
"The situation will be clarified as official information becomes available," the ministry stated.
Sanitary and quarantine controls are currently being conducted at state border crossing points. According to the ministry, no passengers with elevated temperatures, symptoms of illness, or suspected highly dangerous infections have been identified so far.
Kazakhstanis who notice symptoms of illness after traveling are advised to seek medical assistance as soon as possible and inform the doctor of their travel history and return date.
On the night of October 2, 28-year-old Daria Shipilova died in the intensive care unit of the Shelekhov District Hospital. She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute and was professionally involved in the study of dangerous pathogens.
Russian specialists are currently investigating the circumstances of her potential infection.
According to the publication "Lyudi Baikala," she may have accidentally broken a test tube containing the bacterium Yersinia pestis—the causative agent of the plague—while working with live biomaterial in the laboratory on September 25. However, there has been no official confirmation of this information.
Following the incident, the woman's condition reportedly deteriorated sharply. She was hospitalized at the Shelekhov District Hospital.
Initially, unaware of the potential laboratory incident, medics suspected a severe case of coronavirus infection, according to Euronews. Later, due to the rapid decline in the patient's condition, doctors conducted rapid tests for highly dangerous infections.
The woman was placed on a ventilator, but she could not be saved.
Residents of the Irkutsk region and other Russian regions are currently concerned by rumors of a possible outbreak of pneumonic plague.
On October 4, Rospotrebnadzor reported AiF-Irkutsk that the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, Irkutsk, and Shelekhov remains stable. No cases of plague have been identified in the region.
The agency stated that it the woman's cause of death was "pneumonia of unknown etiology".
Russian specialists are continuing their epidemiological investigation to determine the source and circumstances of the potential infection.
Following the incident, 197 people who may have been in contact with the deceased woman were placed under medical observation.
According to available data, none of them have shown symptoms of the disease, and laboratory test results have come back negative.
Anti-epidemic measures are being carried out at the Shelekhov District Hospital.