Russia denies plague outbreak reports in Siberia after lab worker death

Russian health authorities and the Kremlin have denied reports of a plague outbreak in Siberia following the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, in Shelekhov near Irkutsk. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s public health watchdog, stated that Shipilova died of pneumonia of an “unspecified” origin and emphasized that nearly 5,000 laboratory tests failed to detect any dangerous pathogens related to her professional duties. The agency maintained that the epidemiological situation remains stable and that those who had contact with the deceased have completed medical monitoring.

Despite these assurances, the World Health Organization (WHO) has requested clarification from Moscow regarding reports of a second staff member suffering from pneumonia of unknown origin. The United States Department of State has also formally requested additional information from the Russian government to facilitate information exchange with other international capitals. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed media reports as “false,” local officials noted that Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, traveled to Irkutsk for an urgent regional anti-epidemic committee meeting.