WHO Seeks Answers From Russia After Siberia Plague Lab Worker Dies

A worker at a plague laboratory in Irkutsk, Siberia, died of unexplained pneumonia, leading to reports of a suspected plague outbreak.

The World Health Organization is seeking details from Russia regarding the cause of death, quarantine measures, and reports of another sick employee.

Russian media reported a second death in Irkutsk, which Russian authorities dismissed as false information.

The Russian government denies any plague cases and stated the lab worker's death poses no epidemic risk.

Russian authorities confirmed that inspections found no emergency situation at the plague research laboratory.