Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Dozens of people have been quarantined after being in contact with the late lab worker.
Fears of a possible outbreak of pneumonic plague have risen across local online forums after an employee from a Siberian anti-plague institute died unexpectedly.
Internet users quickly spread claims that the worker had contracted bubonic plague. But official health monitors moved fast to squash the rumors.
According to reports from state news outlets, the woman actually suffered from a different condition entirely. The Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, known as Rospotrebnadzor, stated that the woman was diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” according to the Russian news agency TASS.
Tests on people who had close contact with the patient revealed no signs of exotic pathogens. Medical teams found common respiratory viruses instead.
“Laboratory tests have confirmed two Covid-19 and two rhinovirus infection cases,” the agency said, adding that no other infectious disease pathogens were detected in any of the contacts, TASS reported.
Calming the public
Health authorities immediately placed dozens of people who met the woman under close observation. So far, most of those individuals have already finished their isolation period.
“Given the available information, laboratory test results and health status, medical monitoring has been completed for 60% of those who came into contact with the patient,” the agency said.
Officials emphasized that the surrounding towns face no immediate danger.
Kremlin: Stop with the rumors
Behind the scenes, the Kremlin urged citizens to ignore wild online chatter. “The leading agency with authority in this area is Rospotrebnadzor,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized. “And it is Rospotrebnadzor’s official statements that should be relied upon, without listening to various rumors and speculation.”
Peskov reassured the public that medical experts had the situation under control. “Rospotrebnadzor is home to highly qualified professionals in this field. Let’s listen to their official statements,” Peskov urged.
Health monitors continue to track the remaining contacts while daily life moves on.
