WHO investigates suspected second case of pneumonic plague in Russia
The World Health Organization is investigating a possible second case of pneumonic plague among employees of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Russia. The WHO has requested additional information from the Russian authorities about a second employee with pneumonia of unknown origin.
The organisation’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported this on X, according to Censor.NET.
WHO request
In response to a WHO request under the International Health Regulations, the Russian authorities said that no plague cases had been recorded recently in the Irkutsk region.
The Russian side said it had conducted an epidemiological investigation, introduced preventive and epidemic control measures, and placed people who had been in contact with the deceased woman under medical observation and tested them. According to Moscow, no dangerous pathogens were detected among the contacts, and their monitoring has already ended.
Second case
However, the WHO requested additional information to establish the cause of the deceased woman’s "severe pneumonia" and determine which pathogen prompted the introduction of epidemic control measures.
The organisation is demanding explanations from Russia concerning media reports about a second institute employee with pneumonia of unknown cause.
The WHO stressed that timely, complete and transparent information sharing is necessary to clarify conflicting reports and accurately assess potential public health risks.
Plague in Russia
- Following the death of Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old employee of an anti-plague institute in Russia’s Irkutsk region, a hospital in the city of Shelekhov was placed under quarantine. Around 200 people who may have been in contact with the woman were placed under medical observation.
- According to local media, the young woman broke a test tube containing the pathogen that causes pneumonic plague. The Russian authorities have not officially confirmed a plague diagnosis, citing "pneumonia of unknown aetiology". Repeat tests of contacts have so far failed to detect the pathogen.
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plague is a potentially life-threatening bacterial disease, but it can be cured with prompt antibiotic treatment.
- The White House previously said it was monitoring the situation in Russia and assessing possible response options.
- Americans in Russia are being advised to leave immediately because of suspected pneumonic plague.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes Russia should provide more information about the death of a plague research laboratory employee who died last week.
- Donald Trump announced a conversation with Putin about plague.
- The US Embassy urged people not to travel to Russia.
- The Public Health Centre of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health said it was monitoring the situation and had contacted the WHO European Region regarding risk assessments.
