The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Russian authorities have reported no confirmed cases of plague in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, following the death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute.
The 28-year-old woman, identified by Russian media as Darya Shipilova, died on 2 October after developing severe pneumonia. She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, prompting concerns after unverified reports suggested she may have contracted pneumonic plague.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said Russian authorities had informed the organisation that no cases of plague had been detected in Irkutsk. Officials also reported that people who had been in contact with the deceased had tested negative for dangerous infectious pathogens.
However, WHO has not established whether Shipilova herself was tested for plague or whether the disease has been definitively ruled out as the cause of her death.
Russian health authorities have described her illness as pneumonia of unknown origin and said they found no evidence linking her condition to pathogens handled at the institute. Nearly 200 people who had contact with her were initially placed under medical observation as a precaution, with about 60% later released.
The case has generated widespread speculation after reports claimed the laboratory worker may have been exposed to plague bacteria following an alleged laboratory incident. Russian authorities have rejected the claims, and there is currently no publicly available evidence confirming that a laboratory accident caused her illness.
Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague that can spread between people through respiratory droplets. It can be fatal if untreated but is treatable with appropriate antibiotics when detected promptly.
WHO has said the risk to the wider population remains low, while continuing to monitor developments and maintain contact with Russian authorities.
The incident has nevertheless attracted international attention because of the sensitivity surrounding research involving dangerous pathogens and the possibility of person-to-person transmission if pneumonic plague were confirmed.
