Russia Lifts Quarantine as WHO Seeks Plague Answers

Russian authorities have lifted quarantine measures in the Irkutsk region following the unexplained death of an employee of an anti-plague research institute, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) says it still lacks enough information to assess the potential public health risk.Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev announced⁠ on Thursday, Oct. 8, that the restrictions had been removed after experts completed preventive measures connected to what authorities described as a fatal case of “community-acquired pneumonia.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Nearly 5,000 tests find no dangerous pathogensThe deceased employee, identified by independent Russian media as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia.She died overnight on Oct. 1-2 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia of undetermined origin. Unconfirmed reports suggested she may have contracted pneumonic plague through exposure at the laboratory.Russian authorities deny that a plague infection has been established.Kobzev said Shipilova had been vaccinated and had immunity to the dangerous infections she handled. An investigation found no accidents involving pathogenic microorganisms at the institute, he added.The governor said all people who had come into contact with Shipilova had undergone medical observation. Nearly 5,000 laboratory tests reportedly found no dangerous pathogens or infection-related health problems.Around 200 people were placed in isolation after Shipilova’s death. A hospital in Shelekhov and several medical facilities in Irkutsk were reportedly placed under quarantine, while a mask requirement was introduced at the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant as a precaution, according to Artem Fominykh, director of the plant. Other Topics of Interest German Spy Scandal – Could Ukraine and NATO Be at Risk? Nearly 2,000 classified files, a former German spy chief’s Russian contacts and Baku’s intelligence ties with Moscow raise security concerns. WHO says it still lacks the full pictureKobzev claimed that the WHO had publicly confirmed there was no danger to the population. The organization’s own statement was more cautious.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a Wednesday briefing⁠, said that Russia had reported no recent plague cases in the region and had informed the organization about the quarantine of approximately 200 contacts.However, the WHO requested additional information about laboratory tests conducted on Shipilova and those who had contact with her, the reasons behind the extensive public health measures and the current condition of the contacts.The organization also asked Moscow to verify media reports concerning a possible second employee with pneumonia of undetermined origin.“As we don’t yet have the full picture of this event, we are not able to conduct a full risk assessment,” Tedros said.He stressed that the timely and transparent exchange of information was necessary to resolve conflicting reports and accurately evaluate any risk to the public.Rospotrebnadzor said it had provided the WHO with “complete and comprehensive” information and insisted that no risk remained. It has not, however, publicly established what caused Shipilova’s fatal pneumonia. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.