Suspected plague in Russia: WHO urges calm

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 12.20

 

An undated image released in 2019 shows laboratory workers at the institute in question in Irkutsk. Photo: Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute via AP/TT

The risk of the general public contracting the plague is low, the World Health Organization (WHO) states following reports of suspected pneumonic plague in Siberia.

"Based on available information, the WHO’s initial risk assessment estimates the risk as moderate to low for Irkutsk, low for the Russian Federation as a whole, and very low for the WHO European Region," says Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN agency, in Geneva.

A laboratory worker at a plague research institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia died last week from "pneumonia of unknown origin," which quickly sparked fears of pneumonic plague. According to independent Russian media, several hospitals were placed under quarantine, and individuals who had been in contact with the woman were isolated.

"According to test results, no pathogens associated with dangerous infectious diseases were detected in any of the contacts," Lindmeier now says.