Emergency quarantine protocols are in place in Irkutsk after a suspected laboratory accident

Russian health authorities have reportedly placed hundreds of people in quarantine in Siberia following the death of a laboratory worker who was exposed to an “unknown” virus.

The 28-year-old victim was an employee at the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, a town near the regional capital of Irkutsk, according to reports.

Prior to her death, she reportedly told medical personnel that she had accidentally broken a test tube containing live biological samples while working inside the facility.

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[–] 37 points 10 hours ago (1 child)

Earlier articles said it was Pneumonic Plague. Maybe the independent is taking a step back from that since there's nothing definitive, but it doesn't really matter right now (note that this position is different from saying it doesn't matter at all, or saying to not keep your ear to the ground).

If it's the plague then it's treatable with antibiotics, but not the first line ones, and it has to be treated quickly. As we all should know by now if it's a virus you can only treat the symptoms until there's a vaccine.

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