The World Health Organization says it lacks a 'full picture' from Russia following the death of a 28-year-old worker at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, who died two days after developing cold-like symptoms, possibly after a workplace accident. Russian authorities told the WHO no plague case has been recorded in the region, attributing the death to pneumonia of unknown origin, and have dismissed reports of a second suspected plague case as 'false information' — even as a senior WHO official urges Russia to provide more information. The opacity surrounding a dangerous-pathogen lab death has prompted international scrutiny and renewed attention on pneumonic plague.
Last Updated: