WHO says Russia reported no plague cases but hasn't identified pathogen in Siberia death

Russia told the World Health Organization on Tuesday that no plague cases have been recorded in Siberia's Irkutsk region, but has not identified the pathogen that killed a lab worker there, the WHO said. The WHO requested information under international health rules after reports of the woman's death from suspected pneumonic plague, with nearly 200 contacts monitored. Russia replied that her illness resembled a typical respiratory infection, and the WHO is now seeking details on the pneumonia-causing pathogen. The 28-year-old lab worker died in Shelekhov, where the hospital was quarantined. Russian officials report no dangerous pathogens in contacts, while Canada and the U.S. are monitoring the situation, though no risk to Canada has been identified.