Is a Deadly Plague Outbreak Emerging in Siberia?
Is a Deadly Plague Outbreak Emerging in Siberia?
Jessica McBrideMon, October 5, 2026 at 2:40 AM UTC
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A woman’s death in Siberia is leading to quarantines in Russia and panic about a potential outbreak of the pneumonic plague, which is more widely known as the “black death.”
The New York Post referred to the plague as “suspected,” as concerns spread that the Russian government is not being forthcoming about what is happening. It’s not definitively confirmed that the woman in question, a lab worker, died of the plague, though, some sites say. However, the Moscow Timesdid report that the woman died of the plague.
The Russian-language Telegram site, Baikal People, reported:
“Several hospitals in Irkutsk have been placed under quarantine.”
Doctors in Irkutsk are “already openly speaking of plague.”
According to Euro News, “Residents of Shelekhov have seen people on the streets wearing protective suits, masks and gloves. Local parents also say masks were handed out in kindergartens.”
The White House Is Monitoring Reports ‘of a Suspected Plague Case’
Алексей Облов / Getty Images
According to Axios, the White House “is monitoring reports of a suspected plague case and related quarantines in Russia.”
Euro News added additional details: A female staff member at an anti-plague institute in the Irkutsk region “who died amid rumors of a ‘black death’ outbreak was diagnosed with ‘pneumonia of unknown origin.'” However, officials claimed the situation in the area is “stable,” Euro News reported.
Russian health officials have taken “precautionary measures” after the woman died at an anti-plague research facility, Axios reported, adding that authorities have not verified that she was suffering from the plague.
The Deceased Lab Worker’s Name Is Darya Shiplova
Her name was Darya Shiplova. According to Euro News, authorities introduced “quarantine measures” and put 200 people under observation.
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According to the Moscow Times, Alexei Tsydenov, head of nearby Buryatia, confirmed that the woman “had died from an unspecified form of plague.” Before that, officials only said she died from a “particularly dangerous infection.”
“There are no plague outbreaks in the republic, including in areas bordering Mongolia,” he wrote. Shiplova told co-workers that “she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live bacteria while collecting samples for testing,” the news site added.
What Is the Pneumonic Plague?
What is the plague? According to the Washington Department of Health, “Plague is an uncommon infectious disease of animals and humans caused by Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) bacteria. Y. pestis is present in wild rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world, including most of the western United States.”
It becomes pneumonic when “Y. pestis bacteria are inhaled, they lodge in the lungs and the resulting disease is called pneumonic plague. Pneumonic plague is of particular concern because it can be spread from person to person.”
What are the symptoms? “The symptoms of pneumonic plague begin one to four days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms include fever, headache, weakness and a bloody or watery cough due to infection of the lungs (pneumonia). The pneumonia rapidly becomes worse and — without early treatment — it can be fatal,” the Health Department added.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Oct 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
