WHO seeks answers from Russia over second unexplained pneumonia report

The World Health Organization is seeking further information from Russia following reports that a second employee of a Siberian disease research laboratory developed pneumonia from an undetermined cause.

The request follows the death of a 28-year-old worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute on 2 October. She had been admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia, prompting speculation that she may have contracted pneumonic plague through an accidental laboratory exposure. That claim has not been confirmed.

WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Russian authorities had reported no recent plague cases in the Irkutsk region. However, the organisation wants details of the laboratory tests conducted, the health of those who had contact with the worker and the reasons behind the public health measures introduced.

Around 200 contacts were reportedly placed in quarantine or under close medical observation. Russia’s public health watchdog has said extensive testing found no evidence of plague or other high-threat pathogens among those affected.

The WHO is also attempting to verify media reports that another employee developed pneumonia of an unknown cause. It said it does not yet have enough information to identify the pathogen responsible for the fatal illness or complete a full assessment of any potential public health risk.

Dr Tedros called for timely and transparent information sharing to resolve conflicting accounts of the incident. The WHO has offered Russia technical assistance relating to plague and laboratory biosafety, but there is currently no confirmed outbreak.

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