Russia warns of ‘false’ information as second plague case reported
Russia has dismissed reports of a second plague case in Siberia as false, following the death of a researcher at a local institute. International bodies, including the WHO, have called for transparency, while neighboring Mongolia has increased border surveillance.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about laboratory safety protocols and international health transparency regarding potential infectious disease outbreaks.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said full transparency was needed to make a proper assessment of the public health risk. Photo / Fabrice Coffrini, AFP
Russia has warned against “false” information as reports emerged of a second suspected case of plague in Siberia, with Washington and Brussels calling for transparency and neighbouring Mongolia tightening health surveillance.
Russian news outlet People of Baikal reported last Friday that a 28-year-old woman employed at a plague research institute in Siberia’s Irkutsk region had died of the disease, possibly after contracting it from a broken test tube.
International concern has meanwhile grown over the death and suspicions that a second employee at the institute fell ill.
The United States, the European Union and the World Health Organisation have all called on Russia to be transparent about the situation.
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