Plague scientist's family refuses to speak after Siberia death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 09:48 · Archive

The family of a 28-year-old plague researcher who died in Siberia ten days ago is now refusing to discuss her death.

Daria Shipolova, a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, died on 2 October after being admitted to hospital in Shelekhov on 29 September. The Kremlin has not publicly identified the cause of death, stating only that she died from 'pneumonia of unknown aetiology'. The World Health Organisation said it does not know how she died. An information blackout has been imposed over her funeral, and it remains unclear whether she has been buried or if she will be laid to rest in a zinc coffin to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

Her family's silence has deepened speculation about the circumstances. Last week, her mother Svetlana, a medical professional, disputed theories that her daughter had been infected after breaking a test tube, calling such claims 'impossible'. She said: 'I've saved patients like that myself, more than one, but they didn't save my daughter. They simply let my daughter die.' However, she has not spoken since. Her father and brother have now refused to speak to media about her death.

A source said the scientist's family appeared to be 'under pressure not to voice their concerns'. Putin loyalist Igor Kobzev, the Irkutsk regional governor, said all tests were complete and the infection did not spread. However, Russian-born US expert Mikhail Favorov concluded that Shipolova contracted plague from a laboratory accident at her workplace.

How it is being reported

• What is Putin hiding? Plague 'cover-up' mystery deepens ten days after lab scientist's death with Kremlin yet to identify pathogen and family 'refusing to discuss case'Over a week after a young scientist died under mysterious circumstances at a Siberian plague institute, the Kremlin has still not publicly identified the germ that killed her.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 09:33
• Russia ‘pressured’ dead plague scientist’s family to stay quietDaria Shipolova died ten days ago in Siberia (Picture: e2w) The Russian cover-up over the death of a plague scientist has deepened as members of her family are now refusing to speak about the case. Daria Shipolova, 28, died ten days ago, but an information blackout has been imposed over her…Metro · 12 Oct, 08:56

In this story: Daria Shipolova · Svetlana Shipolova · Igor Kobzev · Mikhail Favorov · Irkutsk · Siberia · Kremlin

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