Russian health authorities have denied that a second person has been infected with pneumonic plague in Siberia. The denial comes after a laboratory worker died in the city of Irkutsk, in southeastern Siberia, from an unknown cause. The Russian consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, reported that the laboratory worker, who died on October 2, was being investigated for possible exposure to the plague.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been informed of the situation and has requested more information to clarify the cause of the laboratory worker's death. WHO's Maria van Kerkhove said the organization has more questions than answers about the situation in the laboratory, which was established nearly a century ago to study the plague in Siberia. The plague occurs naturally in wild animals in the region.
Rospotrebnadzor reported that the laboratory worker's death was due to acute pneumonia, but tests have not shown any evidence that the disease was caused by pathogens the worker was working with. The agency also stated that it had taken a range of anti-epidemic measures related to the worker's professional activities and that it had been vaccinated against the infection.
The laboratory where the worker was employed focuses on studying the plague and has been taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. Rospotrebnadzor reported that an investigation into the laboratory's compliance with biosafety standards did not find any emergencies in the handling of pathogens and that all safety measures were taken properly.
The WHO has expressed concern about the situation and has requested more information to understand the cause of the laboratory worker's death and the measures being taken to prevent further spread of the disease. The organization has also been informed that there are no reported cases of plague in the Irkutsk region.
The Russian health authorities have been criticized for their handling of the situation, with some reports suggesting that they were slow to respond to the outbreak. However, Rospotrebnadzor has stated that it has taken swift action to prevent the spread of the disease and to protect the public.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of laboratory workers and the risk of infectious diseases spreading from laboratories. The WHO and other health authorities will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease.
Key points
- Russian health authorities deny a second person has been infected with pneumonic plague in Siberia
- The World Health Organization has requested more information to clarify the cause of a laboratory worker's death in Siberia
- The laboratory where the worker was employed focuses on studying the plague and has been taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease
