WHO Seeks Answers From Russia After Second Institute Worker Sickens

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he has asked Russia for more details about the death of a worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute. The request came after reports that another employee had become ill with what Moscow described as pneumonia of unknown cause. Tedros said prompt, complete and transparent information sharing is required under international health rules.

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, said he asked Moscow for details about Dara Shipilova’s death at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia. His request followed reports that a second worker there had fallen ill with pneumonia whose cause was unclear. He said on X that clear, timely information under international health rules was needed to resolve conflicting accounts and assess possible public health risks. Quarantine measures had been imposed at hospitals and a factory in the Irkutsk region over the weekend.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of a suspected second plague case, calling most Western coverage false and directing people to Rospotrebnadzor. He said WHO had been fully briefed. He also said he lacked information about a US diplomatic query and denied reports that President Trump had scheduled a call with President Putin on the matter. Rospotrebnadzor reportedly said a biosafety review found compliance and tests on the deceased found no microorganisms tied to her work.

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