Russia says all clear after contact tracing in reported plague case
Russian officials in the Irkutsk region have declared the area safe following contact tracing related to a reported plague death. Authorities attributed the death to community-acquired pneumonia rather than the plague, contradicting earlier reports from exiled journalists.
Why it matters
The discrepancy between state-reported health data and independent reporting highlights ongoing concerns regarding transparency in Russian public health and media freedom.
Russia has not confirmed that the woman died of plague, saying she had "community-acquired pneumonia" instead.
Electric scooters are parked next to the building of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk, Russia, on Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026. (Photo: AP)
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