Pneumonic Plague Case in Russia

Last Friday, the 2nd of October,

the first media reports emerged of a, a suspected

case of pneumonic plague in a laboratory worker

at the Irkutsk

Anti-Plague Research Institute in the Russian Federation.

The lab worker died after being hospitalized with severe

pneumonia.

Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague

following an accidental lab exposure.

WHO is aware that the Russian government held a

meeting on the 2nd of October because they suspected a

resident of the Irkutsk Oblast had

contracted a dangerous infection.

On Saturday,

WHO asked the Russian Federation for more information in

accordance with the International Health Regulations.

Yesterday, the Russian Federation responded saying

that no

case of plague had recently been reported

in the Irkutsk Oblast and that they had

placed about two hundred contacts in quarantine.

However, WHO has requested further information

on the lab 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.

WHO has offered technical support related to plague

and lab biosafety and biosecurity.

And we don't yet have the full picture of this event, and we-