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url: https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/china-increases-border-security-over-104821194.html
captured_at: 2026-10-13T12:21:14.645Z
title: China increases border security over Russian plague

China is stepping up its border security following a suspected plague death in Russia.Disease control agencies in north-eastern parts of the country issued safety alerts and called emergency meetings after the death of Darya Shipilova, 28, a Siberian laboratory technician involved in plague research.Officials in the Chinese border city of Manzhouli said it was important to strengthen surveillance in partnership with port and customs authorities, to prevent the potential spread of disease as people and cargo travelled from Russia.Hulunbuir, about 130 miles south-east of Manzhouli, released a risk-prevention notice for those who had recently travelled from Russia to monitor their symptoms.The notice acknowledged that the case in Russia had "not yet received final official confirmation", but said local authorities had been holding discussions because of the "nature of the institution involved and the area's unique natural plague background".Darya Shipilova died after being diagnosed with a pneumonia of 'unknown' origin, according to Russian health officialsRussia has been guarded about the death of Ms Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute. She became unwell at work on Sept 30 and died two days later.It is believed she became infected with pneumonic plague after she accidentally broke a test tube containing the highly infectious pathogen. Her mother said she did not believe this version of events.The US and the World Health Organization have demanded more transparency.China's foreign ministry said last week that it was maintaining "close exchanges and cooperation on the prevention and control of infectious diseases" with Russia.The number of people travelling from Russia to China increased from 1.9 million in 2024 to 2.5 million in 2025, after the introduction of visa-free travel. Beijing is Russia's biggest trading partner.Russia has denied imposing special safety measures at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute following the death of a lab worker - GettyThe lab is in a part of Siberia where the plague occurs naturally in wild animals. The oldest global evidence of the plague, which dates back about 5,500 years, was found in children's graves in Siberia.Mongolia, which shares a 2,165-mile frontier with Russia, has also sought to safeguard its border."Although the current risk level is low, the ministry of health has instructed relevant agencies to take precautionary measures and maintain continuous surveillance to prevent potential risks," a spokesman for the department said.Speculation about a potential lockdown is rife across China, with those living in the north-eastern parts of the country being urged to stockpile canned foods and antibiotics.Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.