WHO seeks more details from Russia about reasons for plague institute worker's death

WHO Requests Transparency From Russia on Plague Institute Worker's Death in Siberia

Details and Reactions Surrounding the Incident

Background of the Incident

Oct 7 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it had requested more information from Russia about what killed a plague institute worker in Siberia, saying transparency was vital to get a clear picture of potential health risks.

Russian authorities say the 28-year-old laboratory worker died on Friday from pneumonia of an as-yet unestablished origin, in a case that prompted international concern, including from US President Donald Trump, and which saw around 200 people initially placed in quarantine.

Russian Authorities' Response

Statements from Health Officials

Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with the deceased worker, Darya Shipilova, and a local official said that 60% of those placed in quarantine had been released.

WHO's Request for Information

Statement from WHO Director General

But Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the WHO in Geneva, said in a statement on X that his organisation needed more information from Russia to fully understand what had happened.

"WHO has requested further information to clarify the cause of the severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted the public health measures, and media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause," he said.

Importance of Transparency

"Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public health risks."

Media Reports and International Concerns

Conflicting Media Coverage

Some Western media outlets have reported - citing unnamed "Russian media" - that a second person in Siberia had died, saying they had died of plague. Reuters was unable to find any such stories in Russian media or any evidence that a second person in Siberia had died.

International Calls for Clarity

Nonetheless, Tedros' call for more information echoed that of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who has said Moscow needs to share more information about the incident.

Unanswered Questions

While Russia's health watchdog has said that Shipilova died after contracting pneumonia, it has not publicly explained what caused it or how she fell ill. Pneumonia can have a variety of causes, including plague.

(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Editing by Toby Chopra and Alison Williams)