WHO: Full Risk Assessment Impossible After Russian Plague Researcher's Death

The World Health Organization says it cannot conduct a full risk assessment following the death of a Russian plague researcher last week, citing an incomplete picture of the incident. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated this at a press conference Wednesday. Darya Shipilova, 28, died on October 2 at the Irkutsk research institute for plague control. Independent Russian media reported she accidentally broke a test tube containing the plague pathogen Yersinia pestis. Russian authorities initially dismissed the incident, attributing her death to severe pneumonia of unknown origin, but later imposed infection control measures including closing five hospitals and isolating around 200 people. WHO has requested more information from Russia after reports of another employee developing pneumonia. The US has also formally asked for details, and President Donald Trump said he will discuss the matter with Vladimir Putin soon. Norway's FHI says it is monitoring the situation but taking no action.