GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has requested further information from Russia regarding the death of a citizen who died following a suspected case of pneumonic plague at a local research institute.
WHO said it had also asked Russian authorities to clarify what public health measures have been put in place, alongside details on the health status of known contacts.
“We have also sought verification of media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. WHO has offered technical support related to plague and lab biosafety and biosecurity,” the global health body said during a media briefing on Oct 7.
“As we don’t yet have the full picture of this event, we are not able to conduct a full risk assessment.’
First media reports emerged on Oct 2 of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in a laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute.
The lab worker died after being hospitalised with severe pneumonia. Initial reports suggested pneumonic plague following an accidental laboratory exposure.
The WHO said it was aware the Russian government held a meeting on Oct 2 ‘because they suspected a resident of the Irkutsk oblast had contracted a dangerous infection’.
“On Saturday (Oct 3), WHO asked the Russian Federation for more information, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.
“Yesterday (Oct 6), the Russian Federation responded, saying that no case of plague had recently been reported in the Irkutsk oblast, and that they had placed about 200 contacts in quarantine.
WHO had requested further information on the laboratory tests conducted on the individual who died, details on what prompted the public health measures, and details about the health status of the contacts.
“We have also sought verification of media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause,” it added.
The WHO confirmed it has offered technical support related to plague, as well as laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
“Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public health risks,” the organisation added.
Russia’s health regulator said on Wednesday there were no risks of an epidemic breaking out in Siberia. On the same day, US President Donald Trump said the US did not believe the incident involved a bioweapon, but told reporters: “We’re going to find out soon enough.”
