‘No plague case’ in Siberia, Russia tells WHO as assessments continue

Health authorities in Russia say there is “no plague case” in Siberia following reports last week that a lab technician had died of pneumonia of an unknown origin in the region, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Wednesday.Russian regulators told WHO on Tuesday that there was no evidence pneumonic plague played a part in her death and that no pathogens had been detected, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. About 200 of her contacts have been placed in quarantine.Further requests for information have been sent to Russian authorities, he added, noting that the lab is part of an institute in Irkutsk that studies dangerous pathogens, including plague, which occurs naturally in wild animals in the area.Post-COVID fearsWhen reports emerged last week of a possible pneumonic plague outbreak in Irkutsk, WHO immediately began monitoring and carrying out risk assessments.Maria Van Kerkhove, who heads WHO’s department of epidemic and pandemic threat management, said the health agency has reached out to Russia for details on lab results, tests and further analysis.She said the request included further information regarding media reports of another suspicious pneumonia d...