Russia Says No Plague, WHO Demands Answers

The World Health Organization is seeking additional information from Russia following the death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “the individual died on 2 October 2026 after being hospitalised with severe pneumonia”. But the cause of the pneumonia is still unknown. 

WHO is also seeking verification of reports that a second employee at the institute has developed pneumonia of undetermined cause.

Tedros said WHO does not yet have enough information to conduct a full risk assessment of the situation. The organisation has offered Russia technical support on plague and laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said there are currently no reports of secondary cases or evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

WHO continues to monitor the situation with Russian authorities.

Russia Says “No Plague Cases” Found After Lab Worker’s Death