Russia’s plague mystery just took a darker turn, as Russian media report a second death in Siberia following a possible plague exposure at a laboratory.
“WHO has requested further information to clarify the cause of severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted the public health measures, and media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause,” the World Health Organization said.
“Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public health risks,” it added.
Authorities have not confirmed the second death, which occurred at a hospital in the Irkutsk region, or linked either death to plague. The first worker, a 28-year-old woman, died Friday after doctors hospitalized her with severe pneumonia following an alleged accidental laboratory exposure.
Authorities placed around 200 people in quarantine after the 28-year-old woman’s death. Russia’s health regulator said on Wednesday that there was no risk of an epidemic in Siberia. President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that he is preparing to call Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the matter “very soon.”
The United States issued a formal complaint to the Russian government warning Moscow that failing to disclose details about the lab worker’s death goes against its international health obligations. Under the 2005 International Health Regulations, countries must notify the World Health Organization within 24 hours of assessing an event that could constitute an international public health emergency — and the regulations identify pneumonic plague as a potentially notifiable event.
Concerns rose due to the death’s proximity to the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute. The institute originally focused on plague control but later expanded its work to other dangerous diseases. Russia describes the institute’s modern work as an anti-plague civilian center. A 2025 U.S. State Department report, however, says Russia has continued work on its biological warfare program.
On Tuesday, Trump said he hoped to share information from United States intelligence about the suspected plague soon. Trump told reporters that he would offer help to Russia. “Everybody who has that kind of a problem, we’ll always help,” he said. “I hate to see them having it. It’s a rough disease.”
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has heightened concerns worldwide about a potential outbreak. Public trust in all levels of government and health institutions declined during the pandemic.
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