WHO issues update on Siberian plague lab death after no response from Russian authorities

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Every individual who came into contact with a laboratory worker who died of unexplained causes at a plague research institute in Siberia has been traced, the World Health Organization reported on Tuesday.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said: "All ‌of the patients' contacts have been ‌reportedly been identified and ‌are being monitored for illness, and ⁠none to date have shown symptoms of illness."

He stated that Russian authorities are currently examining whether pneumonic plague led to her death, although they have not yet formally responded to the WHO's request for further details.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia welcomed US President Donald Trump's offer of assistance to help following the worker’s death.

Peskov said Russia's ‌public health ‌watchdog Rospotrebnadzor was handling ⁠the situation and would provide further information as it became available, while ‌monitoring developments ​following the ‌laboratory ⁠worker's death.

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