On October 14, 2026, a female researcher from a Russian anti-plague research institute died of pneumonia for unknown reasons, sparking concerns about the spread of the plague and laboratory safety. This incident has raised suspicions around the transmission of the plague and laboratory safety. Recently, several regions in China have issued prevention and control alerts, with Hong Kong strengthening health monitoring of travelers from Russia. Meanwhile, there have been rumors circulating online about related cases in Shanghai and Chongqing, though they have not been independently confirmed. Several interviewees believe that further investigation is needed as the transparency of epidemic information will impact public risk assessment and international trust.
The Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, Russia, reported the death of a 28-year-old female laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, on October 2 due to “unknown severe pneumonia,” raising concerns internationally about the outbreak of pneumonic plague and accidental laboratory exposure.
As the situation escalates, social media and some foreign media outlets have reported a possible “second employee diagnosed or even deceased.” The World Health Organization (WHO) requested Russia to provide more relevant information and address reports of a “second employee possibly suffering from unknown pneumonia” on October 7.
Countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have also strengthened prevention and testing measures, while Mongolia has implemented health monitoring at the border with Russia.
At the same time, regions in China such as Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Hunan, and Guangdong have issued plague prevention and control guidelines. The Hong Kong Department of Health also announced enhanced health monitoring for travelers from Russia entering the city on October 12.
While the official confirmation of the plague outbreak is pending, an individual claiming to be a staff member at a mainland Chinese P4 laboratory disclosed that plague patients had been identified in Shanghai and Chongqing upon their arrival from Russia. These patients underwent quarantine and treatment before being allowed to leave, only to fall ill and succumb a few days later upon returning to their respective destinations.
The whistleblower expressed concerns that any changes in the pathogenicity, drug resistance, or transmission characteristics of the pathogen could complicate diagnosis and treatment. There are fears that such situations might pose risks greater than that of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing why he believed the situation could be severe, the whistleblower further raised suspicions about laboratory research, suggesting possible military involvement. He speculated that if the pathogen had been artificially modified and posed challenges in containment and treatment, it could pose greater risks.
However, independent verification of the whistleblower’s claims by the Epoch Times reporter was not feasible.
The circulation of rumors regarding the plague has stirred emotions among the general public. A Shanghai resident, Mr. Wang, mentioned how the widespread dissemination of WeChat messages related to the Sino-Russian plague issue has led many to lean towards believing the information despite the lack of official confirmation.
He believed that this response was closely tied to the experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the deliberate concealment of the virus by authorities in 2019, causing a worldwide spread, the memory remains vivid.
Regarding the Russian plague suspicions, Mr. Wang expressed doubts about the virus’s origin and laboratory safety. He suggested that just as many acknowledge the synthetic origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, making it more dangerous than natural viruses, the current plague could likely be a leaked biological weapon created by Russia.
Addressing public concerns, Taiwan Academia Sinica Institute of Biomedical Sciences researcher He Meixiang stated that the lack of transparency in Russian epidemic information, compounded by international tensions and a lack of trust among nations, has made surrounding regions more vigilant about the situation.
She opined that the enhanced prevention measures in neighboring countries despite the lack of clearer information about the epidemic’s development still hold significance in ensuring safety.
Concerning Russia’s description of cases as “unknown pneumonia” and the insufficient public information to confirm whether they are related to pneumonic plague, He Meixiang stressed the importance of not conclusively linking pneumonia to the plague and not ignoring the possible infectious risks.
A WHO report on October 10 indicated no evidence of sustained transmission resulting from the incident, though the precise cause of the deceased remains unsolved.
Another medical professional focused on the risks of epidemic importation and information transparency issues. Jonathan Liu, a professor at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of the Conforma Chinese Medicine Clinic, suggested that the recent issuance of risk warnings across China indicates the pandemic threat. Given the ongoing personnel and flight exchanges between China and Russia, vigilance regarding possible overseas epidemic imports is necessary.
Liu noted the Russian insistence on the term “unknown pneumonia” and suspected a deliberate cover-up of related information. He highlighted the institute’s historical focus on studying anti-plague matters, including research on biological weapons.
According to a report by Reuters, Russian authorities stated that health checks on contacts of the deceased and tests on nearly 5,000 samples did not reveal any dangerous pathogens.
Liu’s analysis of the Russian official handling of the epidemic from a political perspective suggested that amidst ongoing conflicts, further outbreaks of severe infectious diseases like the plague might provoke public dissatisfaction. Hence, Russia could be inclined to discreetly handle such events.
Regarding the potential spread of the epidemic to China, Liu remained cautious. He indicated that the mainland and Hong Kong health departments are adopting precautionary measures, underscoring continued vigilance towards determining if the incident involving the young researcher’s death is linked to the plague or other unidentified infectious diseases.
To cope with potential risks, Liu advised Chinese citizens to remain cautious, especially with regard to cross-border travel and personal protection.
Why do epidemic rumors easily trigger panic and anxiety? Beijing scholar Yang Ming offered an analysis based on historical experiences.
According to Yang Ming, the Chinese public tends to panic in the face of sudden epidemics not only due to the inherent risks of the diseases but also stemming from long-standing insecurities, opaque official information, shadows from past public health incidents, and the lack of trust in authorities.
He noted that experiences during the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have made the public wary of sudden public health crises.
Yang Ming suggested a commonality between China and Russia in prioritizing message control and mitigating the spread of negative information when handling emergencies.
He stated that while public health incidents carry inherent risks, the lack of timely and reliable information from authorities hampers the public’s ability to assess the risk level and take necessary protective measures.
In an environment of opaque information, public trust deficits can arise, making the public more susceptible to speculation and anxiety, even in the absence of confirmed information when faced with new epidemic rumors.
Regarding the Russian plague suspicions, Yang Ming proposed another possibility that Russia may harness epidemic-related information to create international panic or divert attention from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Nevertheless, there is currently no evidence to support claims that the Russian government deliberately released plague pathogens or disseminated epidemic news to affect international opinions.
During the interview, Yang Ming also touched on the recent usage of VPN software by some internet users. He mentioned the frequent connection issues with his VPN software, especially in the past month, suggesting a potential strengthening of restrictions on such circumvention tools by Chinese authorities.
He believed that the nexus between opaque epidemic information and internet control presents a shared issue: in scenarios where the public struggles to access information from diverse sources and verify the authenticity of unfolding events promptly, conjectures and anxieties could easily take hold.