The World Health Organization has said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia following the suspected death from plague last week of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Darya Shipilova died two days after falling ill with cold-like symptoms. She was an employee at the anti-plague research institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, with some reports suggesting she was infected after a workplace accident.
The Russian authorities have denied a connection with the institute and say Shipilova died from “pneumonia of an unknown aetiology”. They insist there is no danger of a plague outbreak and have described the “sanitary and epidemiological” situation in the region as stable. At the same time, officials have imposed sweeping quarantine restrictions at the lab where Shipilova worked and in nearby hospitals.
Staff were locked down inside the institute for three days, sleeping on the floors and on chairs, while tests were conducted. On Wednesday the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We don’t yet have the full picture of this event and we’re not able to conduct a full risk assessment. We’re waiting for an answer.” The WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic management, Maria Van Kerkhove, said the agency still did not know how Shipilova became infected in the first place – and with what viral disease.
If pneumonic plague was ruled out, “what did she actually die from?” Kerkhove asked. In an interview with local media, Shipilova’s 64-year-old mother, Svetlana, discounted the theory that her daughter had been infected after smashing a test tube. I’m fending off stupid friends who believe this.
A test tube is unbreakable, even if you throw it against the wall,” she said. She described her daughter as a dedicated worker and “pure person” devoted to her job. Former classmates are also sceptical she was infected at her workplace.
One reportedly said: “They’ve smeared a woman without properly investigating. Knowing how hard-working and responsible she was, it just doesn’t add up for me.” The Kremlin has sought to downplay the incident and has brushed aside an offer of assistance made earlier this week by Donald Trump, the US president. The White House has pressed Moscow for more details of the case, while stressing the risk to the US is very low.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
