Russian plague victim's mother denies daughter was infected after breaking test tube | World | News

The mother of a Russian laboratory scientist who died after falling ill has rejected claims her daughter contracted plague after breaking a test tube containing dangerous bacteria, as protective-suited teams continue disinfecting her home. Darya Shipilova, 28, died on October 2 after becoming ill while working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia. Local reports initially claimed she had contracted plague following a laboratory accident, but the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Russian officials have since retracted initial statements attributing her death to plague, while the Kremlin has said she died from pneumonia of unknown origin.

Shipilova's mother, Svetlana, has strongly disputed reports that her daughter broke a test tube containing live bacteria. "I don't want to read nasty things about my child. I know the truth," she said.

She also challenged claims about the alleged laboratory accident, arguing that the protective measures surrounding such materials would make the reported incident highly unlikely.

"Only an amateur would say something like that. Even hypothetically, it's simply impossible to spill or break it. They are so heavily protected," she said.

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Shipilova's death has prompted extensive precautionary measures, with teams wearing protective suits and gas masks reportedly treating her residential building in Irkutsk. According to local media, workers arrived outside her two-storey apartment block late at night carrying containers of disinfectant. The building has reportedly been treated several times since her death.

One resident said the chemical smell was so strong that neighbours had to open doors because they were struggling to breathe. The workers were reportedly sent by Russian health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. Shipilova's mother said she and other relatives had been placed in quarantine, preventing them from arranging her daughter's burial.

"Who is going to bury her if we are sitting here imprisoned?" she said.

She remembered her daughter as a dedicated scientist who worked hard and had earned a position at the institute after completing an internship.

"She was such a hard worker. A pure, truly pure soul," she said.

The conflicting explanations for Shipilova's death have fuelled uncertainty about whether plague was involved.

The Kremlin has insisted that no cases of the disease have been recorded in Irkutsk, while local reports have circulated allegations of a possible infection linked to the research institute.

Reports of another suspected case in Siberia have also emerged, although the details remain unconfirmed.

The World Health Organization has reportedly sought clarification from Russian authorities over the situation.

There has been no publicly confirmed evidence in the supplied reports establishing that Shipilova contracted plague or that a laboratory accident caused her death.

Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Although historically associated with devastating outbreaks, the disease still occurs in some parts of the world and can generally be treated with antibiotics when diagnosed early.

The infection occurs in several forms. Bubonic plague typically affects the lymph nodes, while pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can spread between people through respiratory droplets during close contact. Septicaemic plague affects the bloodstream.

Plague bacteria circulate naturally among some wild animal populations, particularly rodents, and can be transmitted to people through infected flea bites or contact with infected animals or bodily fluids.

Severe forms of the disease can be fatal without prompt treatment, making early diagnosis and appropriate medical care important.