WHO seeks details from Russia on Siberian plague researcher's death

The World Health Organization has requested additional information from Russia regarding the death of a worker at a Siberian plague research institute, citing transparency as vital for assessing potential risks. The 28-year-old employee died Friday in the Irkutsk region from pneumonia of unknown origin. Unconfirmed reports suggest she accidentally broke a test tube containing live plague bacteria, though Russian authorities have not identified the cause. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert Tuesday, and Washington has formally requested details. The U.S. continues to advise citizens to leave Russia, though that advisory has been in place since March 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov dismissed media reports as false, while WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more information is still needed.