The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking further information from Russian authorities following the death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia, saying it does not yet have enough information to conduct a full assessment of the potential public health risk.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed that the organisation had asked Russia for details of the laboratory tests conducted on the worker and her contacts, as well as information on what prompted the public health measures introduced after her death.
The worker died after being hospitalised with severe pneumonia at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia. Initial media reports raised concerns that she may have contracted pneumonic plague following a possible laboratory exposure, but Russian authorities have not confirmed that she died from plague.
In response to a WHO request under the International Health Regulations, Russian authorities said no case of plague had recently been reported in the Irkutsk region and that about 200 people who had been in contact with the deceased had been placed under quarantine. WHO said it was seeking further details on the health status of those contacts and the tests conducted on them.
However, WHO has requested further information on the laboratory tests conducted on the individual who died and the contacts, more detail 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.
Russian authorities said on October 8 that health checks on the contacts had been completed and that nearly 5,000 samples had been tested without detecting dangerous pathogens. They also said the deceased worker had been vaccinated against the infections associated with her work. However, the cause of her pneumonia and the circumstances surrounding her death have not been fully explained publicly.
WHO has also sought verification of reports that a second employee developed pneumonia of undetermined cause. The organisation has offered Russia technical support on plague, as well as laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
“However, WHO has requested further information on the laboratory tests conducted on the individual who died and the contacts, more detail 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.” he stated
Tedros said WHO was not yet able to conduct a full risk assessment because it did not have the complete picture of the incident. He stressed that timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations was necessary to clarify conflicting reports and assess any potential public health risk.
The incident has drawn international attention because of the worker’s employment at a facility specialising in plague research and the initial uncertainty surrounding the cause of her illness. However, there is currently no confirmed evidence of a wider plague outbreak in Irkutsk, and Russian authorities have said no dangerous pathogen was detected among the people who had contact with the deceased.
WHO’s request for additional information reflects the role of international health surveillance in investigating unusual or potentially serious health events. Under the International Health Regulations, countries are expected to provide ongoing information on events that may pose public health risks, including laboratory results, the source and nature of a suspected risk, and the health measures taken in response.
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