No Infection Yet After Employee Death at Russian Plague Lab

Geneva (Reuters) – The World Health Organization (WHO) said Russian authorities have identified all individuals who had contact with a female employee who worked at a laboratory of the Plague Research Institute in Siberia and died of unknown causes.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier stated, “Reports indicate that all persons who came into contact with the patient have been identified and are being monitored to ensure they do not develop the illness. None of them has shown any symptoms of the disease so far.”

He added that “Russian authorities, who have not yet officially responded to the WHO’s request for information, are currently investigating whether pneumonic plague was the cause of her death.”