The mother of the Russian scientist who died in a suspected plague outbreak in Siberia disputes claims that her daughter contracted the disease after accidentally breaking a test tube.
Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, passed away early on October 2. Local officials and pro-government media blamed her death on contracting the plague in now-deleted posts.
Russian authorities are now characterizing her cause of death as pneumonia from unknown causes. However, up to 200 people have reportedly been placed under quarantine by Russian officials, which public health experts believe would be an unprecedented reaction to a single pneumonia case.
Shipilova’s death was attributed to “pneumonia of unclear aetiology,” according to Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian health watchdog. However, the governor of the Buryatia region stated that Shipilova died from plague, and authorities in neighboring cities advised locals not to travel to Shelekhov.
The researcher’s mother says she knows ‘the truth’
According to The Telegraph, Svetlana Shipilova, the mother of the researcher and a medical professional herself, told the Russian publication Glubina that she did not believe the story that was going around about her daughter’s death. Instead, she says Russian officials “simply let my daughter die.”
“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.”
Shipilova’s friends also question the official version of events
In remarks to the local publication People of Baikal, which the Russian government has branded as a foreign agent for its independent reporting, Shipilova’s friends also questioned claims that she had broken a test tube before interacting with others.
“I can’t square this story with the Dasha [Darya] I knew,” said one 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.”
A second case involving the death of a lab worker has been refuted
Darya Shipilova’s death reportedly led to the lockdown of the research institute, the quarantine of possible contacts, and restrictions on a number of hospitals.
Russia refuted reports of a second infectious disease case involving the death of a laboratory worker last week. When social media claims surfaced about a second case involving someone who had contact with a laboratory worker, Russia’s consumer welfare ministry issued a statement denying any new incidents.
“No health issues related to an infectious disease were detected, and the results of nearly 5,000 laboratory tests showed no dangerous pathogenic microorganisms,” Russian officials claimed.
The World Health Organization wants answers
In spite of that claim, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that it had requested that Russia provide clarification.
“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,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO.