Russian authorities have imposed a series of emergency public-health measures after a young laboratory employee died from a severe pneumonia that officials have described as being of “unknown” origin.
The case has attracted international attention because the woman reportedly worked at a specialized anti-plague research facility in Siberia before becoming seriously ill. Authorities have since moved to isolate people who may have come into contact with her while attempting to determine exactly what caused her rapid decline.
The employee, identified in several reports as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia in the town of Shelekhov. According to CNN, she was diagnosed with pneumonia of “unknown” origin before her condition deteriorated.
The response from local authorities has been significant. Shelekhov Mayor Maxim Modin reportedly announced that officials were implementing a “comprehensive set of anti-epidemic measures” following the woman’s death.
