Plague in Russia – Russians told CNN what they fear after the death of a scientist

After the death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, residents of Shelekhov told CNN about distrust of official statements, rumors, and a brief surge in demand for masks and antibiotics in pharmacies. Rospotrebnadzor stated she died of pneumonia of unknown origin, not confirming a link to her work, but isolated those who had contact with her. An anonymous doctor questioned the timing of the diagnosis.

The death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Scientific Research Institute for Plague Control, has caused concern and generated numerous rumors in Russia. Residents of the town of Shelekhov, located near Irkutsk, told CNN that they lack reliable information about what happened and have to rely on internet reports. Rospotrebnadzor stated that Shipilova died of pneumonia of unknown origin, not confirming a link to her professional activities, but isolated people who had contact with her. Amid calls from the WHO and the US to provide additional information, Russians are reacting to the situation in different ways: some remain calm, others doubt the authorities' statements. In Irkutsk, after reports of a possible plague emerged, some residents began stockpiling medical supplies—a pharmacist reported a sharp increase in demand for masks, antiseptics, and tetracycline antibiotics, but the rush lasted only one day. An anonymous Russian doctor, speaking to the independent publication "Lyudi Baikala," expressed doubts about Rospotrebnadzor's statement, drawing attention to the timing of laboratory tests: according to him, confirming a diagnosis can take up to ten days, and he questioned the possibility of identifying the pathogen a day after the autopsy.