Mass quarantine issued in Russia after unexplained death of plague researcher
Unconfirmed reports have suggested there was a laboratory accident.
TL;DR
- An infectious disease researcher died from pneumonia of unknown cause in Shelekhov, Russia.
- Roughly 200 people are under medical observation, and several hospitals are quarantined.
- Unconfirmed reports suggest a possible laboratory accident involving the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis.
- Russian health agencies state the epidemiological situation is stable and have downplayed the incident.
- International health organizations and neighboring countries are monitoring the situation closely.
- Kyrgyzstan has introduced quarantine controls at its border crossing points.