India, Oct. 7 -- A possible plague related incident in Russia has brought the fear of deadly outbreaks back into focus. Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old lab technician working at the Irkutsk Anti Plague Research Institute in Siberia, died on October 2 after developing severe pneumonia. The cause of her illness has not been established.

Reports circulating online have also claimed that a laboratory accident may have taken place at the institute which also includes an allegation involving a broken test tube containing plague bacteria. Russian health authorities have rejected a connection between Shipilova's death and pathogens handled at the facility. Plague has also not been independently confirmed as the cause of her death.

Around 200 peo...