U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia to provide greater transparency regarding the recent death of a scientist at a plague research center and to clarify any potential risks tied to the incident. Russian authorities have issued conflicting details about the situation this week. Speaking on Tuesday after arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland, Rubio emphasized that Moscow needs to share more information globally. This statement followed a denial by Russia’s primary national health agency regarding earlier local reports that a Siberian lab worker might have died from the plague following a workplace accident, which had supposedly prompted anti-plague protocols across several health facilities following her death on October 1 or 2. The World Health Organization stated Tuesday that public health risks for Russia and Europe remain low. Christian Lindmeier, a spokesman for the UN health agency, told reporters in Geneva that the WHO initial risk assessment estimates the threat as moderate to low for Irkutsk, low for the Russian Federation, and very low for the WHO European region. Lindmeier noted that Russian authorities successfully identified everyone who interacted with 28-year-old Darya Shipilova from the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute prior to her death, and confirmed none have shown plague symptoms. The center where Shipilova worked is located in a Siberian area where the plague naturally exists among wild animals. Lindmeier explained that her illness initially resembled a typical acute respiratory viral infection, though Russian authorities are investigating whether pneumonic plague was the actual cause of death. He added that the WHO is monitoring developments closely, maintaining communication to keep international partners informed, and standing by to assist if requested. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s national health agency, downplayed reports from regional officials suggesting Shipilova contracted the plague during a lab accident, some of which were swiftly deleted from online platforms. The agency maintained she was not diagnosed with the plague but passed away from pneumonia of unknown etiology. Shipilova died at an Irkutsk hospital two days after falling ill. The treatment facility, along with roughly 200 close contacts evaluated there, was placed under a partial quarantine, though officials denied that other regional medical facilities faced similar restrictions. Rospotrebnadzor reported that sample analysis showed no microorganisms linked to her hazardous pathogen work at the lab. On Tuesday, the agency stated that many close contacts who underwent screening were permitted to return home, noting that while some routine cold and flu infections and COVID-19 cases were identified, no dangerous pathogens were found. President Trump remarked on Monday that U.S. officials are monitoring the situation closely and remain prepared to offer assistance.
Source: cbsnews.com
