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WHO Says No Recent Plague Cases in Russia’s Irkutsk Region
A laboratory worker in Russia became very sick with pneumonia and died on October 2.
Early reports raised concerns that she might have caught plague at work.
The World Health Organization says Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in the region.
Authorities tested and watched people who had been in contact with her.
They said no high-threat germs were found among those contacts.
Russia’s health watchdog also said tests did not find germs connected to her work and no lab accident was detected.
The WHO is asking for more details about what caused the illness and reports about another employee.
It says sharing information quickly helps experts understand whether there is a health risk.
WHO said Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in Irkutsk oblast.
A laboratory worker died on October 2 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia.
Authorities said identified contacts were tested and monitored, with no high-threat pathogens detected.
Russia’s health watchdog said tests found no work-associated microorganisms and no laboratory accident involving pathogens.
WHO requested more information about the pneumonia’s cause and reports of a second employee with pneumonia.
- Who
- The World Health Organization, Russian health authorities, and a laboratory worker who died.
- What
- WHO said Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in Irkutsk oblast after the worker's death.
- Where
- Irkutsk oblast, Russia.
- When
- The worker died on October 2; WHO made its statement on Tuesday.
- Why
- WHO sought clarification about the cause of the worker's severe pneumonia and reports of a possible public health risk.
Early reports and concerns
Official findings reported to WHO
Possible laboratory exposure
Early reports and concerns
Earlier reports citing unnamed sources raised the possibility that the worker contracted pneumonic plague after a test tube broke.
Official findings reported to WHO
Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in the region; the health watchdog said tests found no work-associated microorganisms and no pathogen-related accident at the institute.
Cause of illness
Early reports and concerns
The worker was reported to have died after severe pneumonia, and some reports suggested pneumonic plague.
Official findings reported to WHO
The cause of the severe pneumonia has not been established in the information reported; WHO requested further details.
Key facts
- Region
- Irkutsk oblast, Russia
- Worker's death
- October 2
- Reported illness
- Severe pneumonia
- Plague cases
- Russian authorities reported no recent cases in Irkutsk oblast
- Contact measures
- Identified contacts were tested and placed under medical observation; observation was completed
- Contact test findings
- No high-threat pathogens were detected among identified contacts
- WHO request
- Further information about the illness's cause, the pathogen prompting public health measures, and reports of a second employee with pneumonia
Quotes
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General of the World Health Organization
“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.”
m.rediff.com
“In response to WHO's verification request under the International Health Regulations, the Russian health authorities reported that no case of plague had recently been registered in Irkutsk oblast.”
m.rediff.com
Sources
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