Biologist Raises Concerns Over Pneumonic Plague Reports in Russia

<figure><img alt="kevin esvelt" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/CGY46K4EFZHETH7POQ3GCVGH6U.jpg?auth=b9dbf47ae9c35d62efc2cd1b774e2926f26d1f8cdfa4fa8b1c5cdf20b811b354&amp;smart=true&amp;width=2663&amp;height=1498" /><figcaption>Anna Webber / Getty Images for The New Yorker</figcaption></figure><p>Kevin Esvelt, a biologist and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has expressed skepticism regarding reports of a pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia. In a thread on X, Esvelt noted that the circumstances surrounding the death of a researcher at a weapons-related lab in Irkutsk do not align with typical lab-acquired infections.</p><p>Esvelt stated, "Russia’s five-hospital quarantine, FSB involvement, and reported hazmat use in response to the death of a single researcher at a weapons-lineage Irkutsk lab are inconsistent with a lab-acquired plague infection, which would have been treated with prophylactic antibiotics." He further suggested that the pathogen involved may not be plague at all, indicating the possibility of engineered resistance.</p><p>He added, "None of this means the Irkutsk pathogen will cause a pandemic. But the response clearly indicates that Russia believes an epidemic is possible - and that the responsible agent is likely a pandemic weapon or otherwise embarrassing for the government."</p><p>Authorities reported on October 6 that Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old lab technician, died from suspected plague after allegedly breaking a test tube containing live bacteria. She was hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms and died two days later.</p><p>Following her death, several hospitals in the Irkutsk region were quarantined, and nearly 200 individuals were placed under medical observation. Local residents reported that doctors were discussing the plague openly, and a maternity hospital restricted visitors due to concerns about the disease.</p><p>Public health officials have claimed that the epidemiological situation is under control, with Igor Kobzev, the governor of the Irkutsk region, referring to the pathogen only as "a dangerous infectious disease." He stated that all identified contacts have been placed under medical observation, with no signs of illness reported among them.</p><p>Esvelt's concerns are echoed by other scientists, including Russian epidemiologist Michael Favorov, who criticized the explanation of the broken test tube as implausible. Favorov remarked, "If you break a test tube, the likelihood of infection is actually very low. In short, it doesn’t matter to the general public—they’ll believe the ‘dropped test tube story.’"</p>