Irkutsk:A worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia's Irkutsk region has died from what has been described as 'pneumonia of unknown etiology,' according to Russian authorities.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) announced that expanded testing of the woman's samples did not detect any microorganisms linked to her work at the institute. The agency also stated that the epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and the nearby city of Shelekhov remains stable.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has advised the public to rely on official statements from Rospotrebnadzor and to ignore rumors. He emphasized the agency’s authority in such matters and urged people to focus on its communications rather than speculations.

Reports from local media and Telegram channels suggested that the 28-year-old might have died from the plague after a purported lab accident in Shelekhov. These reports also mentioned quarantines at several hospitals in Irkutsk and the implementation of a mask mandate at the Irkutsk Aluminum Smelter in Shelekhov.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev stated that an emergency regional sanitary commission convened following the reports of a suspected 'highly dangerous infectious' disease case. He confirmed that all identified contacts of the deceased were under medical observation, showing no symptoms, and that laboratory tests had returned negative results.