Information Blackouts Mount Amid Rumors Of Lab-Leaked Plague, Russian Media Outlet Reports

As rumors of a lab-leaked plague in Siberia continue to spread, an independent Russian magazine reported significant information blackouts — removed social media posts, public service announcements and news articles concerning information about the plague allegations.

Following the death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova — a laboratory research technician working at the Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia — Russian authorities have denied reports that she allegedly died of a pneumonic plague caused by a lab accident.

“The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is calm,” Russia’s National Public Health Agency reported in a statement from the department on Telegram.

However, Lyudi Baikala (LB), an online Russian magazine, published a lengthy article on Tuesday that seems to indicate there are serious gaps in the official narrative. The English translation of the Russian headline means, “Is it really the plague!?”

While the Daily Caller News Foundation reports on the Russian outlet’s findings, it has not yet independently confirmed their information as fact.

After she was hospitalized at the Shelekhov District Hospital on Sept. 29 for a severe illness, Shiplova died sometime between Oct. 1 and 2. Her cause of death was labelled as “pneumonia of unspecified etiology,” according to Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s national public health agency. This means that the patient was diagnosed with pneumonia, but doctors were unable to identify the specific microorganism — bacteria, virus or fungus — that caused the illness. Shiplova died from “severe pneumonia,” according to the Independent.

However, though the hospital was immediately placed under quarantine after her death, Governor Igor Kobzev said on Telegram that Shiplova suffered from a “particularly dangerous infection” — and the word “plague” was not mentioned in official statements, according to LB.

Later that day, Anna Popova, Russia’s chief state sanitary doctor, arrived in Irkutsk and met with other government officials, doctors and security forces to approve an “operational action plan,” LB reported.

“Plague was the cause of death confirmed by Buryatia’s head, Alexey Tsydenov,” Ukrainian National News reported, citing a post from the government official on Telegram.