Russia has told the World Health Organization (WHO) that no cases of plague have been detected in Irkutsk following the death of a laboratory worker at a Siberian anti-plague research institute. The worker, identified as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, died after developing severe pneumonia under circumstances that remain unclear.
Russian health authorities said tests among people who had contact with Shipilova found no evidence of plague or other dangerous pathogens. Around 200 contacts were reportedly identified and placed under medical observation, while precautionary measures were introduced at medical facilities.
The incident has nevertheless attracted international scrutiny because of the worker’s employment at a facility specialising in high-risk infectious diseases and earlier reports suggesting possible pneumonic plague.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Moscow to provide greater transparency, saying Russia should share more information with the international community. President Donald Trump also said Washington was monitoring the situation closely and remained prepared to assist if necessary. The WHO currently considers the public-health risk low overall, while continuing to seek additional information from Russian authorities.
