Mass quarantine issued in Russia after unexplained death of plague researcher
Mass quarantine issued in Russia after unexplained death of plague researcher
俄罗斯一名鼠疫研究员离奇死亡，当地实施大规模隔离
Roughly 200 people are under medical observation, several hospitals are under quarantine, and dozens are in isolation in Russia following the unexplained death of an infectious disease researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia, in the town of Shelekhov, according to early reports of the situation on Sunday and Monday. 据周日和周一的初步报道，俄罗斯西伯利亚伊尔库茨克反鼠疫研究所（位于舍列霍夫镇）的一名传染病研究员离奇死亡后，当地约有 200 人处于医学观察之下，多家医院被隔离，数十人被单独隔离。
Researcher Darya Shipilova reportedly died last week from pneumonia of “unknown” cause, according to Rospotrebnadzor, a Russian public health agency. Unconfirmed information regarding her death has swirled. Some reports have claimed she accidentally broke a test tube containing the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis, on September 25. She subsequently fell ill, was admitted to a hospital September 29 with severe pneumonia and died overnight between October 1 and October 2. 据俄罗斯公共卫生机构——俄罗斯消费者权益保护和公益监督局（Rospotrebnadzor）称，研究员达里娅·希皮洛娃（Darya Shipilova）上周因“不明”原因的肺炎去世。关于她死亡的消息众说纷纭，未经证实。有报道称，她在 9 月 25 日不慎打破了一支装有鼠疫病原体——鼠疫耶尔森菌（Yersinia pestis）的试管。随后她病倒，于 9 月 29 日因严重肺炎入院，并于 10 月 1 日至 2 日夜间死亡。
The head of the Russian region that neighbors Irkutsk, Alexey Tsydenov, initially reported that she had died of plague but later altered his statement to say she “possibly” died of the disease. Y. pestis can cause several forms of plague: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic—the latter of which can be aggressive and quickly fatal. However, the pathogen is generally easily treated by antibiotics. 与伊尔库茨克相邻的俄罗斯地区负责人阿列克谢·齐杰诺夫（Alexey Tsydenov）最初报告称她死于鼠疫，但后来修改了说法，称她“可能”死于该疾病。鼠疫耶尔森菌可引起多种形式的鼠疫：腺鼠疫、败血症鼠疫和肺鼠疫——其中肺鼠疫病情凶猛且致死率高。不过，这种病原体通常很容易用抗生素治疗。
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone exposed to the pathogen should undergo an immediate seven-day post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis treatment. Additionally, though pneumonic plague is spread via respiratory particles from coughing, it is not considered highly infectious; it requires direct, close contact for the bacteria to be transmitted. 在美国，疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）建议，任何接触过该病原体的人都应立即接受为期七天的暴露后抗生素预防治疗。此外，虽然肺鼠疫通过咳嗽产生的呼吸道颗粒传播，但它并不被认为具有高度传染性；细菌的传播需要直接、密切的接触。
Former Rospotrebnadzor head Gennady Onishchenko said Friday that Shipilova’s infection was “most likely not the plague” but that there “will be no spread of this disease,” CNN reported. Rospotrebnadzor has downplayed the incident, saying in a statement that the “epidemiological situation” in the region is stable. “No micro-organisms associated with the employee’s professional duties were detected in samples taken from the patient,” it said. 据美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）报道，俄罗斯消费者权益保护和公益监督局前局长根纳季·奥尼先科（Gennady Onishchenko）周五表示，希皮洛娃的感染“很可能不是鼠疫”，并且“不会出现这种疾病的传播”。该机构淡化了这一事件，在一份声明中称该地区的“流行病学情况”稳定，并表示：“在从患者身上采集的样本中，未检测到与该员工职业职责相关的微生物。”
However, the agency’s current head, Anna Popova, made an unusual trip to Irkutsk on Friday, which Igor Kobzev, the local governor, described as due to a “suspected case of a particularly dangerous infection affecting a resident of the region.” 然而，该机构现任局长安娜·波波娃（Anna Popova）周五对伊尔库茨克进行了一次不同寻常的访问。当地州长伊戈尔·科布泽夫（Igor Kobzev）称，此行是因为“该地区一名居民疑似感染了特别危险的传染病”。
A spokesperson for the US State Department told CNN, “We are monitoring the situation closely with the CDC and our other interagency partners. Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly.” The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Monday that it, too, is monitoring the situation “very closely.” Kyrgyzstan, around 1,500 miles from Irkutsk, said Monday it was introducing quarantine controls at state border crossing points. 美国国务院发言人告诉 CNN：“我们正与 CDC 及其他跨部门合作伙伴密切关注事态发展。许多细节尚未得到证实。我们鼓励俄罗斯当局迅速、公开地分享准确信息。”欧洲疾病预防与控制中心周一也表示，正在“非常密切地”监测局势。距离伊尔库茨克约 1500 英里的吉尔吉斯斯坦周一表示，将在国家边境口岸实施检疫控制。