Death in a Russian Laboratory: Can the Plague Pathogen Become Biological Weapon?

As [explained](https://ru.euronews.com/2026/10/09/bioweapons-and-plague-pathogens) by Euronews biological weapons expert Mirko Himmel from the University of Hamburg, it is essential to distinguish between research for protection against infections and offensive programs aimed at creating biological weapons. ## The Death of a Lab Worker Raised Questions About the Institute's Work According to media reports, 28-year-old Darja Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, died after an alleged contact with the pathogen of pneumonic plague. As [reported](https://nypost.com/2026/10/05/world-news/plague-outbreak-at-russian-lab-raises-questions-about-bioweapons-and-what-was-actually-happening-in-remote-siberia/) by the *New York Post*, she may have broken a test tube containing the dangerous pathogen while working. The publication also reported a quarantine for individuals who had contact with the woman. The circumstances of the infection require official confirmation. The Irkutsk Institute has studied dangerous infections for decades and collected strains of plague, anthrax, and other pathogens. During the Soviet era, such institutions were part of an extensive network of anti-epidemic laboratories. According to researchers, some of them were linked to military programs of the USSR. ## Defensive Research and Biological Weapons Are Not the Same According to Himmel, many countries with the necessary scientific and technical resources, including the USA, the UK, Russia, China, and EU countries, conduct research on pathogens of dangerous diseases. Such work may be aimed at developing vaccines, diagnosing infections, and protecting the population. At the same time, the expert warns that research officially intended for biological protection could theoretically be used as a cover for offensive programs. The USA suspects Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran of conducting such developments. These suspicions do not, in themselves, confirm the existence of specific active programs. In April 2025, the U.S. Department of State stated that Russia maintains an offensive biological weapons program and violates commitments under the international convention. Russian authorities deny the accusations and claim that their laboratories are engaged in public health protection. ## Why the Plague Pathogen Poses a Danger The Euronews expert explained that using the plague pathogen as a biological weapon, infection with the pneumonic form of the disease is theoretically possible through inhalation of particles containing the bacteria. Pneumonic plague is dangerous also due to its ability to be transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions. At the same time, the presence of a dangerous pathogen in a laboratory does not indicate that it is being prepared for military use. Research on plague is necessary for developing methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. ## Why It Is Impossible to Fully Verify Compliance with the International Ban The Biological Weapons Convention, which came into force in 1975, prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. However, as Himmel notes, the treaty does not provide a comprehensive verification mechanism that would allow independent confirmation of compliance with its provisions by all states. As a result, it is challenging for the international community to reliably establish whether secret offensive research is being conducted anywhere and what its scale is. Moreover, the lack of transparency is not evidence of a violation of the convention. The situation surrounding the Irkutsk Institute has once again raised the question of international control over research on dangerous pathogens. However, verifiable evidence is necessary to draw conclusions about a possible connection between the laboratory and a biological weapons program—one alleged infection of an employee is insufficient for this.