"Viral Infection": WHO Says Public Health Risk Is Low After Suspected Plague Death in Russia
- The WHO assessed the public health risk in Russia as low after a laboratory technician in Siberia died from suspected pneumonic plague
- The 28-year-old, named as Darya Shipilova, worked at an institute in Irkutsk that studied dangerous pathogens in an area where plague occurs naturally in wild animals
- Russian authorities traced and tested everyone who had contact with Shipilova, and no dangerous infectious diseases were detected in any of them
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The World Health Organisation has weighed in on fears surrounding a suspected plague death in Russia, saying the broader public health risk remains low.
A 28-year-old laboratory technician named Darya Shipilova died after falling ill in Siberia's Irkutsk region, where she worked at an institute that researches dangerous pathogens. The area is known for naturally occurring plague in wild animal populations.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier confirmed the agency's assessment at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. "The WHO initial risk assessment from the information available estimates the risk to be moderate to low for Irkutsk, a low risk for the Russian Federation as a whole, and very low for the WHO European region," he said.
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Russia investigates suspected pneumonic plague
Shipilova's illness reportedly began in the same way many common respiratory infections present. Lindmeier told reporters.
"The illness initially presented as a typical acute respiratory viral infection."
Russian authorities have since identified and monitored all individuals who had close contact with the deceased technician. According to Lindmeier, test results from those contacts came back clear.
"According to the test results, no pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases were detected among any of the contacts," he said.
WHO monitoring the situation closely
The UN health agency stressed it was tracking developments and coordinating with its headquarters to keep other member countries informed. The WHO also confirmed it stands ready to assist Russian authorities should they request support.
News of Shipilova's death had sparked public alarm the previous week before authorities and the WHO were able to provide clarity on the extent of the risk.
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