WHO demands answers from Russia over plague researcher's death in Siberia

The World Health Organization has demanded more information from Russia about the death of a 28-year-old worker from pneumonia at a plague research institute in Siberia, amid reports of a possible second case. Russian authorities insist there is no epidemiological risk to the public. The woman, Daria Shipilova, died Friday at the institute in the Irkutsk region. Around 200 contacts were initially quarantined, but Russian health officials said Wednesday that tests showed no signs of infection or dangerous pathogens, and 60% of those quarantined have been released. The WHO cited conflicting reports and stressed the need for transparent information sharing. The Kremlin dismissed media reports of a second case as false information, while Reuters found no evidence of such reports in Russian media.