WHO seeks answers from Russia as a second lab worker develops pneumonia after Siberia plague death
From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026.
Darya Shipilova, 28, whose death on October 2 after reportedly breaking a test tube of pneumonic plague bacteria sparked fears of an outbreak, was treated by doctors as a severe Covid case until it was too late for…Russian media are reporting a second death at Irkutsk's district hospital, as the WHO says it is still waiting for a full response from Russian authorities.
The World Health Organisation has formally requested information from Russia after a second worker at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute reportedly developed pneumonia, raising fresh alarm about a potential cover-up. Darya Shipilova, 28, died last week — two days after falling ill — at the Siberian institute where dangerous pathogens including plague are kept. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Russia to be "timely, complete and transparent" in sharing information under International Health Regulations.
The WHO assesses epidemic risk as "moderate to low" for Irkutsk, "low" for Russia, and "very low" for Europe, with contacts monitored and none yet showing symptoms.
Russian authorities have downplayed Shipilova's death, calling it "pneumonia of unknown aetiology," while strict quarantine has been imposed at the institute and neighbouring hospitals.
Canada is also monitoring the situation, while a leading Oxford scientist has issued a worldwide warning over the mystery surrounding the outbreak.
