Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev announced on 8/10 that all preventive measures linked to a death from "pneumonia of unknown origin" have concluded. He affirmed the epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and Shelekhov remains stable, posing no public health risk.

The Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) reported that over 90% of individuals who had contact with Daria Shipilova, a technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute who died on 1/10, have finished medical monitoring. None showed signs of infectious disease.

A resident wearing a face mask walks past the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute on 7/10. Photo: AFP

Nearly 5,000 epidemiological screening tests identified no dangerous pathogens. Two councils overseeing biosafety confirmed no incidents occurred at the research institute. "All preventive measures have concluded," Governor Kobzev stated on social media.

Rospotrebnadzor confirmed it fully informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the incident, adhering to International Health Regulations. Comprehensive preventive measures were implemented quickly after the case emerged.

Concerns arose after Russian media initially reported that Dalia Shipilova's death was suspected to be due to pneumonic plague. This was reportedly after she accidentally broke a test tube containing *Yersinia pestis* bacteria while taking samples at the institute on 25/9. She was hospitalized in Shelekhov on 29/9 with severe pneumonia symptoms.

Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Republic of Buryatia, initially suggested the patient "may have died from plague." However, Irkutsk regional officials later announced Shipilova's cause of death was "pneumonia of unknown origin." Governor Kobzev added that the 28-year-old technician had been vaccinated and was immune to the dangerous infectious diseases she worked with.

The conflicting information prompted the United States, the European Union, and WHO to express concern, urging Moscow to share information. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted Russia recorded about 200 contacts of the technician, all of whom were isolated for monitoring.

The US Department of State announced on 6/10 that its embassy in Moscow was monitoring the situation and advised US citizens in Russia to leave immediately. US President Donald Trump a day later dismissed speculation that the death in Irkutsk could be linked to biological weapons, stating Russia had informed him the situation was under control.

By Thanh Danh (According to Xinhua, AFP, Reuters)