Global risk may be low, but experts want more data
International health experts are calling for more transparency from Russian authorities following the death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague institute. While the WHO suggests a low global risk, the lack of shared genetic data makes it difficult for experts to accurately assess the situation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights concerns regarding global biosecurity and the importance of data transparency during potential infectious disease outbreaks.
Last week, an employee who worked at a Russian anti-plague institute died, possibly from an unspecified form of plague . This led to the quarantine of nearly 200 people in Russia's Irkutsk region, located in eastern Siberia, according to local news outlets.
Following these reports, concerns are circulating about what exactly caused the death and quarantine — and just how worried the rest of the world should be.
The World Health Organization says the incident presents a low risk globally of pathogen spread, and a moderate risk for the nearby area, Dr. Nahid Bhadelia , founding director of Boston University's Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, told CNBC's "Squawk On the Street" on Tuesday. But some infectious disease experts say it's impossible to determine the risk yet, citing a lack of transparency from Russian authorities.
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