Siberia plague scare: lab worker dies, but no infection confirmed

The death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker at a Russian anti-plague research institute in Siberia has triggered quarantine measures and international attention, but authorities say no plague infection has been confirmed. The employee died on October 2 after developing pneumonia of unknown origin. Russian health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said extensive testing detected no microorganisms connected to her professional work, and no accident involving dangerous pathogens was recorded. Around 200 contacts were placed under medical observation, with two Covid-19 and two rhinovirus infections found among them, but no additional dangerous infectious disease cases. The World Health Organization said the public health risk appears low, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was no reason for alarm based on current information. The cause of the worker's fatal pneumonia remains under investigation, with authorities urging the public to rely on confirmed information.