Why could the WHO not complete a risk assessment of the suspected plague death in Irkutsk?

The WHO said it lacked the full picture because Russia had not yet provided complete and transparent information about what infected the laboratory technician, how she became infected and whether pneumonic plague had been ruled out.

What was known about the laboratory technician who died in Irkutsk?

The 28-year-old woman worked at an anti-plague laboratory and died after hospitalization with severe pneumonia. Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague caused by accidental laboratory exposure, but WHO officials said they did not understand how she became infected or what illness caused her death.

What additional information did the WHO request from Russia about the Irkutsk incident?

WHO sought clarification about a reported second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency had received the information from two media outlets, asked Russia to respond and was waiting for a formal answer.

WHO says cannot conduct full risk assessment on Russia plague

Listen

Summary

The World Health Organization said Wednesday it could not conduct a full risk assessment in Geneva because Russia had not provided complete information about the suspected plague death of a 28-year-old laboratory technician in Irkutsk, Siberia. WHO, the United States and the European Union urged Moscow to clarify the cause and circumstances of her death. WHO officials also sought information about reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.

Key Facts

The technician died after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia, while initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague following an accidental laboratory exposure.
WHO said Russia held a meeting on October 2 after suspecting that an Irkutsk oblast resident had contracted a dangerous infection.
Maria Van Kerkhove said WHO needed to establish both what infected the woman and how she became infected.
WHO said it had received reports of a second employee with pneumonia from two media outlets and was awaiting a formal response from Russia.

By AFP

Published Oct 8, 2026 12:44 am KST
Updated Oct 8, 2026 1:39 am KST

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a press conference on global health issues, in Geneva, Tuesday. The WHO said it wanted more information from Russia on the death of a plague laboratory technician -- and on reports of 'a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.' WHO's chief said full transparency was needed in order to make a proper assessment of the public health risk. AFP-Yonhap — World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a press conference on global health issues, in Geneva, Tuesday. The WHO said it wanted more information from Russia on the death of a plague laboratory technician -- and on reports of "a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause." WHO's chief said full transparency was needed in order to make a proper assessment of the public health risk. AFP-Yonhap

GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Wednesday it could not produce a full risk assessment as it did not yet have the whole picture from Russia on the suspected plague death of a laboratory technician.

The WHO, the United States and the European Union have urged Moscow to provide more information following the death of the 28-year-old woman in Irkutsk in Siberia.

"We don't yet have the full picture of this event and we're not able to conduct a full risk assessment," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

"Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the international regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public and risks."

Tedros said the anti-plague laboratory worker died after being hospitalised with severe pneumonia, with initial media reports suggesting pneumonia plague following an accidental lab exposure.

"WHO is aware that the Russian government held a meeting on October 2 because they suspected a resident of the Irkutsk oblast had contracted a dangerous infection," he added.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic management, added: "We don't understand how she was infected."

The UN health agency wanted to know "what she was infected with, number one; and secondly, once we know that, how she was infected?"

If pneumonic plague "is ruled out, what did she actually die from?," she said.

Tedros said he also wanted more clarification from Moscow following media reports of "a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause."

"We assess any reporting from the community," he told reporters.

"We have actually received this information from two media outlets.

"We asked Russia to respond to that... we're waiting for an answer, because any reporting that comes, we cannot ignore it," he said, adding "I hope we will get an answer to that, formally."

Explore More