Antonia Langford and Alexandra Snow
The mother of a Russian scientist who died in a suspected plague leak has challenged reports that her daughter was infected after breaking a test tube containing plague bacteria.
Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Siberian anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, died early on October 2 after being taken to hospital in the nearby town of Shelekhov.
Her death, which is still shrouded in mystery, was attributed to infection with the “plague” by local officials and pro-government media in now-deleted posts. The Kremlin has dismissed the claims and denied imposing anti-plague measures.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) demanded that Russia answer questions about reports of a second, unconfirmed case of plague in Siberia and supply more information about the death of Shipilova.
The researcher’s mother, Svetlana Shipilova, herself a medical professional, told the Russian outlet Glubina that she did not believe the account circulating about her daughter’s death.
“I know the truth,” she said. “I’m having to fend off stupid acquaintances who believed all this – the clever ones didn’t believe it, of course.
“Not even all medical professionals understand it’s impossible to break a test tube like that,” she continued. “Even if you fling it at the wall. Only an amateur could say something like that.
“Even hypothetically, you simply can’t spill what’s inside or break the tube – they’re that well protected.”
She also told reporters: “They simply let my daughter die.”
Although officials have not publicly confirmed the reports, accounts shared widely in local media suggested that the younger Shipilova had become infected with pneumonic plague after being exposed to the highly infectious pathogen in a lab mishap.
Pavel Stepanov, the Irkutsk-based journalist, among others, claimed that she had “concealed what happened” after breaking a test tube containing the deadly sample.
About 200 potential contacts were reportedly quarantined and restrictions were imposed on several hospitals amid fears others may have been exposed to the plague, while the research institute was locked down.
Shipilova’s friends also questioned reports that she had broken a test tube and then come into contact with others, in comments given to the local outlet People of Baikal, designated a foreign agent by the Russian government for its independent reporting.
“They have dragged her name through the mud without even finding out what happened,” said a former school friend.
“I can’t square this story with the Dasha [Darya] I knew,” said another friend. “It’s as if they are talking about somebody else. Knowing how hardworking and responsible she was, it just doesn’t add up for me.”
“Dasha was really smart,” an acquaintance who studied in the same department told the outlet. “Not many people from our department land jobs at the plague institute … It’s a serious facility. They take everything seriously and it’s safe.”
Russia has come under increasing international pressure to provide transparency about the reports surrounding the lab worker’s death.
Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian health watchdog, claimed that Shipilova had died from “pneumonia of unknown aetiology”, but the head of the Buryatia region said she had died from plague and authorities from nearby cities warned residents to avoid travelling to Shelekhov.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said: “WHO has requested further information to clarify the cause of the severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted the public health measures, and media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.”
Russia’s health watchdog responded that it had sent information about the situation in Irkutsk to the WHO.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, urged caution on the use of media reports as a reference for what was happening.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US formally sent a confidential diplomatic communication, known as a démarche, warning that failure to disclose information about the potential outbreak would violate Moscow’s international health obligations.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether he had spoken with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, about the issue, Donald Trump said: “I have a call scheduled very soon. So far, we’re in very deep discussions.”
However, the Kremlin responded hours later by saying that no concrete plans had been made for a call between Trump and Putin, who is celebrating his 74th birthday on Wednesday.
During a trip to Iceland on Tuesday, Marco Rubio called on Moscow to be “transparent” after Russian authorities denied imposing anti-plague measures to stem a suspected outbreak.
“We’re watching it very closely, hour by hour,” the US secretary of state said. “I think it’s incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world.”
On Wednesday, a US state department spokesman said the request had been formalised.
“We have officially requested additional information from the Russian government. We are also in official communication with other countries around the world to share information,” a spokesman said.
The EU also called on Russia to “share timely and transparent reporting” about the death.
The government of Mongolia said on Wednesday it would impose “health surveillance” measures on its border with Russia. Four Central Asian countries had previously tightened epidemic control and public health measures at their borders.
Rospotrebnadzor insisted on Wednesday that there were no epidemic risks to the population and that medical monitoring of the worker’s contacts and laboratory tests had found no signs of infection or dangerous pathogens.
“Preventive and anti-epidemic measures have been organised in full and there are no epidemic risks for the population of Irkutsk or Irkutsk region,” it said in a statement.
However, residents have provided a different picture, describing frustration at the lack of information from authorities and perceptions of inadequate safety measures.
Neighbours of the deceased scientist told People of Baikal that they were concerned that local authorities had not come to take swabs from them. Instead, authorities told them to see a doctor if they developed symptoms.
“We’re shocked they haven’t quarantined us,” one neighbour said. “We’ve all been in contact with her. We probably shouldn’t be going to work.”
The building where Shipilova lived has been disinfected at least three times, but one worker tasked with doing this, who identified herself as having been sent by Rospotrebnadzor, reportedly told residents the measure was to combat cockroaches.
It is not clear how many people remain in quarantine, but a report on the news portal Siberia.Realities suggested that the anti-plague institute had been locked down and that staff were sleeping on chairs and the floor.
Residents published videos and photos online after they were asked to fill out a screening form for “plague” upon arrival at a maternity hospital in Irkutsk.
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