WHO Seeks Details After Irkutsk Lab Worker’s Death

A 28-year-old worker at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk died after developing severe pneumonia, and the cause of her illness remains unknown. Russian authorities say they have found no plague cases or high-threat pathogens among identified contacts, while the World Health Organization says it needs more information to assess the situation fully. The worker, identified as Daria Shipilova, died on October 2, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Russian health authorities. Russia reported to WHO that no recent plague case had been registered in Irkutsk and that about 200 contacts had been quarantined or placed under close follow-up. Russian health regulator Rospotrebnadzor said nearly 5,000 tests found no dangerous germs and reported no high-threat pathogens among identified contacts. Officials have described Shipilova’s illness as pneumonia of unknown origin. The cause of her death, and whether any pathogen was detected in her body, have not been established in the supplied reporting.