What happened
Russian officials have responded to reports of a second laboratory worker death at a facility in Siberia that studies the plague. The first worker, a 28-year-old, died on October 2 from pneumonia of unknown cause. Russian authorities have stated that there is no risk of an epidemic, and the country's health regulator has begun winding down precautionary measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested more information about the situation and has offered technical support. The WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the organization has remained in contact with Russian health authorities and has asked for further information to clarify the cause of the severe pneumonia.
Russia's health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, reported that no cases of plague had been detected among those who came into contact with the deceased worker, and 90 percent of those in quarantine had been released after lab tests failed to detect any dangerous pathogens. However, the cause of the pneumonia that killed the worker remains unknown.
The US Embassy in Russia has issued a health alert, advising American citizens to follow the guidance of health authorities and avoid any affected facilities. President Donald Trump has stated that he will be discussing the situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.
