Russian authorities told the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday that “no cases of plague” have been recorded in the Irkutsk Oblast region of Siberia, according to the UN health agency, after reports that a lab worker had died of possible pneumonic plague.
However, the WHO says Russian officials have not yet told the agency what the pathogen that killed the lab worker is.
“WHO is aware of media reports that a laboratory worker in Irkutsk oblast, in the Russian Federation, died of suspected pneumonic plague, and that nearly 200 of her contacts were under medical observation and being tested,” the WHO said.
“On 3 October, WHO asked the Russian authorities under the International Health Regulations (IHR) for any further information they had, so we could assess the risk. The IHR asks countries to respond within 24 hours acknowledging WHO’s request and then provide additional public health information within 48 hours.”
The statement continued: “The Russian authorities replied on 6 October and told WHO that the woman’s illness first looked like a typical acute respiratory viral infection, and that no case of plague has been recorded in Irkutsk, either in her or in anyone else.”
“WHO has requested additional information from Russia on which pneumonia-causing pathogen led to the woman’s death. WHO is following the situation closely, keeping other countries informed, and ready to support the Russian authorities if they ask.”
The update comes hours after Russian health officials said a full range of preventive measures had been carried out — including tracing of the deceased woman’s contacts, medical monitoring and lab tests.
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“Test results showed no presence of dangerous infectious disease pathogens in any of the contacts,” said the note from Russian authorities, which was relayed to The Associated Press by WHO.
The Public Health Agency of Canada told Global News Monday evening that “at this time, no risk to Canada has been identified” and that it was “closely monitoring the situation.”
The lab worker, a 28-year-old woman, died at a hospital in Shelekhov, a town just outside the city of Irkutsk. Its mayor said earlier this week that the hospital was placed under quarantine, and officials from Russia’s national public health watchdog travelled to the region.
On Monday, Irkutsk Oblast Gov. Igor Kobzev did not identify the illness but said it was a suspected case of “a particularly dangerous infection,” later calling it “pneumonia of unknown etiology,” the Associated Press and Reuters reported.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a UN briefing on Tuesday that the institute where the woman worked “studies dangerous pathogens,” including plague in a part of Siberia where the disease “occurs naturally in wild animals.”
He said Russian officials have not yet asked for WHO experts to deploy to Russia, which had determined that health risks were moderate-to-low for Irkutsk; a low risk for the Russian Federation as a whole; and very low for the WHO European region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was watching the situation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russian authorities to share more information.
“Maybe there’s nothing there. Maybe it’s bigger than we thought. We don’t know,” he said at a news conference in Iceland. “We’re watching it very closely, and I think the whole world is watching it very closely.”
Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel said on Monday that there is “no risk for Canada.”
–with files from the Associated Press and Global News’ Katherine Ward
Ben, you don’t follow the science, you follow the Liberal bandwagon.
Abelis, the mRNA was not a vaccine.
It seems you don’t understand the difference.
Fauci would have fit right in 1940s Germany, would have been Adolfs right hand man
Abelis: mRNA is not a vaccine. WHO decided to call it a vaccine. It is genetic changing. It is fools who fell for it that are trying to say that all vaccines are equal and effective. Most are. mRNA is not. Experts agree that because the flu changes so often, the flu vaccine is less than 50% effective. – to say we all need to take all ‘vaccines’ is bad science. We all should take the effective, true vaccines.
When WHO gets involved they spread false information. Why would anyone deliberately invite them anywhere? Why is Global trying to fear monger and make a world wide case over 1 case?
@Lord almighty. I follow the science. Science evolves. So conclusions are changed when evidence changes. This is a “feature” of science. It would be much more concerning if science never changed it’s conclusions when evidence changes. That’s why I get deeply concerned about people who rely on a book written 2,000 years ago. The book, which clearly was made up, never changes and the people who slavishly follow it quote from it as if it were fact. The same people strangely choose which things in the book to follow. I strongly suggest you get vaccinated-especially if you have co-morbidities.
“Lord almighty IMP”, you obviously don’t understand how vaccines work, you’re also a silly conspiracy theorist & you’re embarrassing yourself.
Please, don’t get any vaccines or boosters, I’m sure your fictional deity will save you.
Ben, you are a liberal troll if I have ever seen one. Nobody trusts the Covid mRNA anymore, they see what was really happening. We were lied to. We were told the mRNA would prevent us from catching or spreading the virus, and that it made it safe to visit hospitals and travel, but what really happened was it seemed to increase the propagation and frequency of re-infection. Circle back a bit earlier to when that first round of the mRNA wiped out a senior home – the media followed up a few years ago by removed every article and reference covering. Why would anyone trust the WHO or the government coercion ever again?
Nite nite sleep tight, it’s all fun and games till someone loses an eye
@Incontinentia Buckets 728. Look on the NIH database, PUBMED for said studies proving the efficacy of vaccines. It has a google like search.
Too bad conspiracy theorists can’t or won’t do the simple math that proves vaccine efficacy instead of seeking out a car sales lady on Facebook with a few cherry picked antivax numbers. Now other people’s kids are at risk for measles and more because they want to feel superior. Just selfish.
Make vaccines mandatory and free.
EXACTLY why we no longer even need the WHO because to many countries KEEP SECRETS from the WHO so who are they able to protect when a deadly virus or pathogen is created in countries like Russia and China etc..Forget the WHO. No longer needed since their FAILURE during the WHOLE COVID pandemic.
@Ben
I would love to see those studies so that I can better educate myself. Which ones did you read?
I just can’t get enough of liberal paid news orgs executives and managers thinking us citizenry have no right to opinions on justice.
The Spectacular Tyrannical Satanic Corruption of our democratic institutions is brought to you by Liberals.
I just can’t get enough of liberal paid news orgs executives and managers think us hoi polloi have no right to opinions on justice.
The Spectacular Tyrannical Satanic Corruption of our democratic institutions.
Anonymous your such a loser….
@on the side, don’t think you or ben could punch your way out of a wet paper bag. What I like about you guys is the way your cheeks puff out when I fart in your mouth
Cage match Anonymous and Ben….Ben will kick anonymous’s ass.
@ben, people LIKE YOU are the dirt under a common person’s work boot
@ben, you gotta stop reading those peer reviewed studies ( gay porn magazines), you so FUUUUNY!
@Anonymous. The anti vaxxers came out on the last story about this and I’m here to defend vaccines. I’m well aware this is treated with antibiotics. I truly apologize that you always jump to conclusions and assume facts not in evidence. Hopefully you will learn to deal with people respectfully and nicely one day instead of being constantly arrogant, obstinate and obdurate towards me. You take good care now.
Dear insufferable Ben – I could care less about pseudo-intellectuals and what they think they know.
There is no vaccine for the bacteria…it requires antibiotics.
Now shut your idiot mouth.
@Anonymous. Really appreciate you telling me I believe in science, data and the facts. You may want to read those peer reviewed studies.
@ben, you’ll believe absolutely anything from a leftards mouth, dumb leading the dumb, SO FUNNY YOU ARE!
I expect the anti vaxxers will soon be commenting. They don’t read peer reviewed studies found on the NIH database showing vaccines have saved millions of lives and increased life expectancy.