No plague detected in Siberia: 60 percent of those in quarantine released
After an employee of the plague research institute in Russia's Irkutsk region died, those who had been in contact with him were examined.
After an employee of an institute conducting plague research in Russia's Irkutsk region died, no plague disease was detected in people around him. According to Rospotrebnadzor, among those who had contact with the deceased, COVID-19 was detected in two people, and rhinovirus infection in another two.
The 28-year-old laboratory employee died on October 2 from pneumonia of as-yet undetermined origin. Following his death, quarantine was introduced at one of the hospitals in the city of Shelekhov, and those who had contact with him were placed under medical observation.
Rospotrebnadzor stated that a comprehensive investigation had been conducted to determine the cause of the employee's death. No microorganisms related to his work activity were found in the deceased's body. Also, no infectious diseases have been recorded among employees of the Irkutsk plague institute over the past 10 days.
Laboratory tests were taken daily from those placed in quarantine. As a result, no pathogens causing other infectious diseases besides COVID-19 and rhinovirus were detected. No condition characteristic of an infectious disease was observed in any of the people under observation.
According to Yelena Sofina, deputy head of Shelekhov district, the "dangerous diagnosis" that prompted the introduction of quarantine at the hospital has not been confirmed. Sixty percent of those quarantined have already been discharged home. Earlier, local media reported that nearly 200 people had been quarantined.
US President Donald Trump offered assistance to Russia on Monday, calling the situation "a big problem for Russia." Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov assessed the offer of assistance positively, but did not say whether Moscow would use it.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Russia should provide more information about the situation.
The World Health Organization announced that Russia had informed it that no cases of plague had been detected in Irkutsk. At the same time, Reuters was unable to independently determine whether the possibility of plague had been completely ruled out as a cause of the laboratory employee's death.
Residents of Shelekhov said the situation had not seriously affected daily life. Some citizens initially wore medical masks in stores as a precaution.
One local resident, Anna, said the situation in the city was calm, people were prepared for possible restrictions, but life was continuing as usual. According to another citizen, Denis, the laboratory employee's death was widely discussed in the city. The local hospital temporarily suspended diagnostic examinations, and later returned to its usual working order.
