Russian lab worker dies of plague after breaking vial in Irkutsk institute

October 3, 2026 at 11:30 AM1 min

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A 28-year-old laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute died of pneumonic plague on October 2 after breaking a vial containing the pathogen on September 25. She was hospitalized in Shelekhov District Hospital for three days before her death. Authorities have identified 197 contacts and hospitalized 189 of them.

Key Facts

Darya Shipilova, 28, died at Shelekhov District Hospital on the night of October 2.
She broke a vial containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25.
Buryatia head Alexei Tsydenov confirmed plague as the cause of death.
197 people were identified as contacts; 189 were hospitalized.
The previous human plague case in Russia was recorded in 2016.

The Incident

Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, broke a vial containing the pneumonic plague pathogen on September 25. She fell ill shortly afterward and was admitted to Shelekhov District Hospital. She died there on the night of October 2 after three days of treatment.

Containment Response

After the case was identified, specialists traced 197 people who may have had contact with the deceased. Of these, 189 were hospitalized: 114 in one medical facility, 63 in another, and 12 sent to the anti-plague institute. Buryatia head Alexei Tsydenov confirmed that plague was the cause of death.

Disease Context

Plague is treatable with antibiotics when detected early, but some forms can be fatal without prompt medical care. The World Health Organization recorded 3,248 plague cases worldwide from 2010 to 2015, with 584 deaths. The previous human plague case in Russia was recorded in 2016.