It's like a movie plot.
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According to CNN, "anti-epidemic" measures have been taken following a laboratory worker's death from a mysterious illness. The lab worker was dedicated to studying the plague and other infectious diseases.
The worker reportedly died after being diagnosed with pneumonia of "unknown" origin, per CNN.
"Authorities are implementing a "comprehensive set of anti-epidemic measures," said Maxim Modin, the mayor of the Shelekhovsky district in eastern Russia, near the Mongolian border," CNN's report continued. "The woman's death was confirmed by officials last week."
As you'd expect, the facility where the worker was treated has now been quarantined. Multiple departments have stopped discharges and are not admitting patients. A stringent protocol appears to be in place, with the sole focus on stopping any potential spread.
According to Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian agency that handles infectious disease, " micro-organisms associated with the employee's professional duties were detected in samples taken from the patient." That is certainly good news; however, it will do little to ease public concern in the short term.
Regular testing for people who have worked at the Institute has been taking place. Currently, no one has tested positive. Testing has now been widened to people who have been in contact with those workers, meaning close to 200 people are now under observation.
There Are Concerns the Lab Worker Died of the Plague
Given the nature of the lab worker's role, there are understandable concerns that they died from a form of the plague.
"The head of the neighboring republic of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, said earlier that the employee died "possibly from the plague." He also noted that "there are no plague outbreaks" in Buryatia," CNN reports.
Given the disease's highly contagious nature, it's understandable that authorities have taken such swift action. However, at present, testing has not indicated any risk of spread.
A spokesperson for the US State Department has also issued a statement regarding the situation. When speaking with CNN, they noted that "We are monitoring the situation closely with the CDC and our other interagency partners," the spokesperson said. "Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly."
Just a few years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is hypervigilant when it comes to potential outbreaks. Hopefully, the lessons learned from that tough period in our recent history will allow for any potential spread to be contained and quickly eliminated.
