Russia says Siberian plague lab death poses no epidemic risk

Russia's health regulator said Wednesday there is no risk of an epidemic in Siberia after a plague institute worker died, while the World Health Organization pressed Moscow for more information about her cause of death. The 28-year-old laboratory worker died last Friday from pneumonia of unestablished origin. Around 200 people were initially quarantined, but Russia said no plague cases were detected among contacts and 90% were released after nearly 5,000 lab tests. The worker was vaccinated and immune to dangerous infections, though the exact cause of her pneumonia remains unknown. The WHO requested details on lab tests and pathogens evaluated, and asked Russia to verify media reports of a second employee with pneumonia. The Kremlin dismissed most media coverage as false information, while US President Donald Trump said Russia reports the situation is under control.