What happened
A second death has been reported in Siberia, Russia, following a possible plague exposure at a laboratory, according to Russian media. The World Health Organization has requested further information to clarify the cause of severe pneumonia and the pathogen that prompted public health measures.
A 28-year-old woman died on Friday after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia, allegedly due to an accidental laboratory exposure. Authorities have placed around 200 people in quarantine and Russia's health regulator has stated that there is no risk of an epidemic in Siberia.
The incident has raised concerns due to its proximity to the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, which originally focused on plague control but has since expanded its work to other dangerous diseases. The United States has issued a formal complaint to the Russian government, warning that failing to disclose details about the lab worker's death goes against international health obligations.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the matter and has offered help to Russia. The World Health Organization has emphasized the importance of timely and transparent information sharing to assess potential public health risks.
