WHO: Low plague risk in Russia after Siberia lab death

The World Health Organization has assessed the public health risk in Russia as low after a 28-year-old laboratory technician in Siberia died from suspected pneumonic plague, noting that all monitored close contacts have tested negative for the disease. The WHO estimated the risk as moderate to low for Irkutsk, low for Russia overall, and very low for the European region. The technician, Darya Shipilova, worked at an institute studying dangerous pathogens in an area where plague occurs naturally in wild animals. Russian authorities identified and monitored her contacts, with no pathogens detected among them. The WHO is following the situation closely and stands ready to support Russian authorities if requested.