Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, was taking biological samples for testing when she accidentally broke a tube containing live bacteria linked to pneumonic plague on Friday, 25 September. Shipilova, a married medical university graduate, told medical staff about the accident.
She fell ill and was admitted to Shelekhov District Hospital, near Irkutsk, after developing severe pneumonia symptoms. She was put on a ventilator and died early on 2 October.
Her death prompted a containment operation for people who may have been exposed. Approximately 189 to 200 people were under medical observation as of 2 October. At least 197 contacts were isolated, including more than 100 in hospital wards.
The information released so far does not show whether the broken tube was Shipilova's only source of infection, or identify the safety procedures that may have failed.
On 1 October, law enforcement and administrative agencies met in Irkutsk to organise the response. Officers also began accompanying ambulances carrying Shipilova's contacts for testing.
Shelekhov District Hospital, where Shipilova died, was put under quarantine, and all clinic staff were isolated. Authorities also called off planned public events in Irkutsk.
In Shelekhov, people wearing protective suits, gloves and masks were seen in the streets during the response.
Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk Region, said none of the traced contacts had shown signs of illness and their laboratory results were negative as of Friday. He met Anna Popova, Russia's chief state sanitary doctor, who travelled 2,600 miles from Moscow to lead the emergency response.
The regional sanitary and anti-epidemic commission also held an extraordinary meeting.
Law enforcement opened a criminal investigation into possible breaches of health-safety rules that resulted in a death.
Alexei Tsydenov, head of the neighbouring republic of Buryatia, confirmed that the woman had died of plague, while declining to identify the form of the disease. He said Buryatia had no plague outbreaks, including in areas bordering Mongolia.
One account said Shipilova may have returned from a work trip to Buryatia, on the border with Mongolia, where a plague outbreak was reported.
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