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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Bernadette B. Tixon

MIT Scientist Warns Russia Has 'Surely Sequenced' Mystery Pathogen After Death in Siberia but Has Yet to Identify It

DNA helix attacked by bacteria; An MIT biologist claims Russia has sequenced a mystery pathogen that killed a Siberian lab worker. (Credit: kjpargeter/Magnific)

MIT biologist Kevin Esvelt has alleged that Russian authorities have sequenced an infectious agent associated with a laboratory worker's death but have not disclosed its identity. He made the claim in an X thread on 5 October, without presenting laboratory data establishing that sequencing had occurred or that officials were withholding a result.

Darya Shipilova, 28, died on 2 October after developing severe pneumonia. Russian authorities have described its cause as undetermined and said testing had not identified microorganisms associated with her work. On 7 October, the country's public-health regulator said precautionary measures were being wound down.

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