WHO Seeks Clarification from Russia on Plague Institute Worker’s Death and Reports of Second Pneumonia Case

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally requested further information from Russia regarding the death of a laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Siberia, as well as media reports of a second employee suffering from pneumonia of unknown origin, stressing that transparency is essential to assess any potential public health risks.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation had asked Russian authorities to clarify the cause of the worker’s severe pneumonia, to identify the pathogen that had prompted the public health measures put in place, and to provide details on reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. He said the WHO was actively following up on the matter.

According to Russian authorities, the 28-year-old laboratory technician, Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, died on Friday, October 2, after being hospitalised with pneumonia whose origin has not yet been established. The case drew international concern, including from United States President Donald Trump, and led to around 200 people initially being placed under quarantine.

Russia’s health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among those who had been in contact with the deceased worker, while a local official reported that around 60 percent of those quarantined had since been released. However, Russian authorities have not publicly disclosed what caused the pneumonia or how the worker became ill. Pneumonia can arise from a range of causes, including plague.

Reuters said it was unable to locate any Russian media reports describing a second case, nor any evidence that a second person in Siberia had died. Some Western outlets had earlier reported such a case, citing Russian media.

It remains unclear whether the technician had contracted plague, whether the reported second case exists, or whether any incident occurred at the laboratory. The WHO said it would continue to seek further details from Russian authorities.