WHO sees low risk of epidemic following Russian lab technician death

The World Health Organization said the risk of a plague epidemic in Russia is low after a laboratory technician died in Siberia. The Guardian Europe reported that the World Health Organization has detected no sign of a further outbreak following the death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova last week. Russian media reports suggested that Shipilova may have been infected during an accident at her workplace, where dangerous pathogens are kept and studied. [1]

Russian authorities have tried to downplay the situation, according to Guardian Europe. However, international concern remains high as the BBC and Forbes reported that the United States is closely monitoring the situation and pressing Moscow over its failure to disclose full details about the incident. [1][5][6]

As FTMQ World reported earlier, United States President Donald Trump said he will speak soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the technician's death at the Siberian research facility. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington is watching the case amid concerns over pneumonic plague, while the governor of Irkutsk stated the official cause of death was pneumonia of undetermined etiology. [11][12]

Pneumonic plague is a severe lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Symptoms include fever, headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood, which typically begin three to seven days after exposure. [7]