WHO issues statement as 200 lab workers quarantined after researcher dies
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a statement following the death of a worker at a plague research institute.
This comes after 200 people who had been in contact with her were placed in quarantine or under medical supervision in Siberia.
The worker has been identified by local media as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, and had been employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East at the time of her death, which sparked concern online.
Rumours began to circulate that it could have been connected to an accident involving plague bacteria at the facility.
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However, Russian authorities have said there is currently no evidence linking her death to her work at the institute.
Now, according to a report by Reuters, the WHO has shared a statement to say that, based on information currently available, ‘the public health risk to the general population appears to be low’.
The WHO added that it would carry out further risk assessments as more information becomes available.
What happened to the lab worker in Siberia?
Shipilova reportedly became unwell before dying in the Irkutsk region, with officials having described her cause of death as pneumonia of unknown origin.
The situation prompted a serious public health response, resulting in around 200 people being quarantined, as well as parts of the hospital where she died being cordoned off.
President Donald Trump has also spoken out about the incident, telling the press: “Well, I hate to see them having it, it’s a rough disease.”
The president added: “We’ll help. Anybody that has that kind of a problem, we’re always willing to help.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed that the US government is closely following the situation.
However, authorities have since stressed that none of the findings so far establish a connection between the woman’s death and plague.
Why are people concerned about a plague outbreak?
Public concerns about a possible outbreak of the disease is due to its extremely serious nature when left untreated.
Plague has been present in Siberia for thousands of years, with researchers previously identifying the region as the location of the oldest known prehistoric human outbreak.
There are three main forms of plague, with pneumonic plague being the form that can spread between people through respiratory droplets.
While it can become fatal without treatment, the plague can be treated with antibiotics when it is diagnosed promptly.