Moscow has reported pneumonia of unknown cause. A claim that the employee contracted plague in a lab accident remains unconfirmed; WHO assessed the risk outside Russia as very low.
Reports about the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute and an investigation into a possible pneumonic-plague case have prompted questions in Russia and abroad. The official explanation cited in reports is pneumonia of unknown cause; authorities have not publicly announced a definitive diagnosis. Claims that the woman was infected after a laboratory accident remain unconfirmed.
Polish outlet Gazeta.pl reported that the 28-year-old employee broke a tube containing the pneumonic-plague pathogen on September 25 and was hospitalised four days later with severe pneumonia. After her death, authorities imposed quarantine at several medical facilities and placed about 200 contacts under observation. The Associated Press and Euronews also reported the investigation into the institute employee’s death and quarantine measures, while stressing that a laboratory infection has not been established.
Gazeta.pl said U.S. President Donald Trump offered Russia assistance and planned to speak with Vladimir Putin. The Associated Press reported on October 6 that Trump said a call was scheduled and the leaders would discuss the possible plague case. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Moscow to disclose more information, describing what had been provided as limited.
Gazeta.pl also cited a Wall Street Journal report that Washington sent Moscow a confidential diplomatic warning. According to the WSJ, U.S. officials said Russia had provided little information, and the State Department had formally requested more details. Those claims are attributed to the newspaper’s sources.
The World Health Organization said it was consulting Russian authorities and assessed the risk outside Russia as very low. The Associated Press reported WHO’s view that there was no indication of a situation comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Available reporting has not confirmed either a pneumonic-plague diagnosis for the deceased employee or widespread transmission.