Mother of Russian scientist who allegedly died from plague dismisses claim she broke a test tube

The mother of a Russian scientist who died in a suspected plague leak is casting doubt on the explanation that her daughter was infected after breaking a test tube containing plague bacteria.

The scientist, Darya Shipilova, who was a lab technician at the Siberian anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, died Oct 2 after being taken to hospital.

Local officials and pro-government media, in now-deleted posts, attributed the 28-year-old's death to infection with the “plague.” The Kremlin has dismissed the claims and denied imposing anti-plague measures, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph. 

The researcher’s mother, Svetlana Shipilova, who is also a medical professional, told the Russian outlet Glubina that she doesn't believe the explanation being given for her daughter's death.

“I know the truth,” she said, also according to The Telegraph. “It’s impossible to break a test tube like that. Even if you fling it at the wall. Only an amateur could say something like that."