WHO watching suspected plague death of Siberian lab worker
This story has been updated: Update: Russia tells WHO there is 'no plague case' in Siberia Oct. 8, 2026
Oct. 6, 2026 — Russian authorities are investigating whether pneumonic plague caused the death of a woman who worked at a laboratory in Siberia's Irkutsk region that studies dangerous pathogens, including plague, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said. Plague occurs naturally in wild animals in that part of Siberia, he said, and WHO is following the situation closely.
The wall: Test results and whether contacts are being monitored were not yet known.
Tier: Reported (based on UN News' account of WHO's briefing)
Sources
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