WHO seeks details from Russia after death of Siberian plague lab worker

The World Health Organization has asked Russia for more information about the death of a 28-year-old employee of an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, saying it lacks enough information to assess the potential public-health risk.

Darya Shipilova died on Oct. 2, two days after developing cold-like symptoms. Reports that she contracted pneumonic plague in a workplace accident have not been confirmed. Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said she died from “pneumonia of undetermined etiology,” reported no additional cases and said the regional epidemiological situation was stable. The Kremlin accused media outlets of spreading false information and said there was no epidemic threat.

Russian authorities nevertheless imposed temporary restrictions at Shipilova’s workplace and nearby hospitals while testing was conducted. Reports cited by SBS and CNA said about 200 contacts were quarantined or otherwise restricted. Shipilova’s mother rejected claims that her daughter was infected after breaking a test tube.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said timely and transparent information was needed to resolve conflicting accounts. The agency also sought clarification about an unconfirmed report of a second institute employee with pneumonia of unknown cause. The WHO assessed the international risk as “very low.”

The United States formally requested further details from Moscow and issued a health alert advising Americans in the area to follow local guidance and avoid affected facilities. President Donald Trump said the United States was monitoring the case and was prepared to offer assistance. Kazakhstan, Mongolia and two other neighboring countries introduced heightened border health screenings, according to SBS.