by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Russian authorities have denied reports of a possible plague outbreak at a Siberian research facility following the death of a laboratory worker, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) seeks answers about a second employee reportedly suffering from an unexplained illness.
The controversy began after 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, died October 2 from pneumonia of undetermined origin. Local media suggested she may have been exposed to dangerous bacteria following a laboratory accident, although Russian officials have rejected those claims.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed much of the reporting as misinformation, urging journalists to rely on statements from Russia’s public health regulator, Rospotrebnadzor.
Russian authorities said Wednesday that nearly 5,000 laboratory tests had found no dangerous pathogens and that more than 90% of those placed under medical observation had been released. Officials insisted there was no risk of an epidemic.
However, the WHO said it remains uncertain what caused Shipilova’s death and has requested additional information concerning reports of another laboratory employee suffering from pneumonia of unknown origin. The second reported illness has not been independently confirmed as plague, nor has a second death been verified.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the importance of transparent information sharing to determine whether the incident poses a broader public health threat.
The incident has also drawn attention from Washington. President Donald Trump offered American assistance, while U.S. health officials said there was currently no indication of a wider threat to the United States.
The Irkutsk facility specializes in researching plague and other dangerous infectious diseases. Pneumonic plague, the most severe form of the disease, can spread through respiratory droplets and become fatal without prompt antibiotic treatment.
Despite Moscow’s assurances, the cause of the laboratory worker’s death remains unresolved, leaving international health authorities awaiting further evidence.
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Source: Worthy News
