Lab Worker Dies After Suspected Leak of Deadly Pathogen

A deadly mystery illness at a Siberian lab has ended in a researcher's death and a flurry of questions, CNN reports. Russian officials say a 28-year-old employee at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, near Irkutsk, died after developing pneumonia of "unknown" origin following a lab accident involving a suspected dangerous agent. A regional leader had earlier suggested she may have been infected with plague. Russia's former top sanitary official now says the illness is likely something else, but Mother Jones reports multiple outlets are reporting a plague outbreak in the area.

Authorities insist the situation is under control: close contacts are under observation and reportedly testing negative, though independent outlets say around 200 people are being monitored and a maternity hospital is under quarantine. The US and the World Health Organization are watching closely, urging transparent information-sharing as Russia continues to downplay the risk of wider spread. Pneumonic, or lung-based, plague is caused by a bacterium and easily spread from person to person via respiratory particles; it is the only form of plague that can be transmitted from person to person, the Telegraph reports. The other types of plague are typically spread through contact with infected animals or fleas. Though its fatality rate is high, health officials say it is easily treated with antibiotics.