US, WHO request details from Russia amid reports of second pneumonia case

Amid global public health concerns surrounding the death of an Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East worker, the World Health Organization noted in a statement issued Tuesday on the X account of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that it had requested more information from Russia regarding the matter, including on "media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.""The individual died on 2 October 2026 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia.Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague following an alleged accidental laboratory exposure," the WHO statement noted."In response to WHO’s verification request under the International Health Regulations, the Russian health authorities reported that no case of plague had recently been registered in Irkutsk oblast.

They informed WHO that an epidemiological investigation had been conducted, preventive and control measures implemented, and identified contacts placed under medical observation and tested.They reported that no high-threat pathogens had been detected among the contacts and that medical observation of all identified contacts had been completed," the statement explained."WHO has requested further information to clarify the cause of the severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted the public health measures, and media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause," the statement notes.Reuters reported that when questioned about the WHO's request to respond to reports of a second individual in Siberia allegedly becoming sick, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called for caution when it comes to media reporting."There is a great deal of media coverage, and the vast majority of what the media are reporting about this situation is false information," Peskov said, according to the outlet.TRUMP SAYS PUTIN CALL COMING 'VERY SOON' AS US TRACKS SUSPECTED PLAGUE DEATH IN RUSSIA12 January 2026, USA, Washington: View of the US State ...