Russia dismisses transparency calls amid reports of second Siberia plague case

Russia has rejected transparency demands following the death of a laboratory technician in Siberia, as reports surfaced of a second suspected case of infection. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's public health watchdog, stated there was no epidemic risk from the death of Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, who passed away last week in Shelekhov.

Shipilova had received vaccinations and was presumed immune to the diseases she researched, and nearly 5,000 lab tests came back negative for dangerous pathogens. Over 90% of those who had contact with her completed medical monitoring.

The Kremlin dismissed claims of a second suspected plague case in Siberia, stating most media reports were false. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged citizens to rely solely on Rospotrebnadzor's official statements. Russian authorities have maintained Shipilova died of pneumonia, with her cause of death still undetermined. International concern persists, with US President Donald Trump's administration requesting additional information from Russia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Moscow to clarify the situation regarding reports of a second staff member with pneumonia of unknown origin, stating the risk was very low beyond Russia's borders due to the country's limited international contact. The institute studied dangerous pathogens, and plague naturally occurs among wild animals in the Irkutsk region.

Pneumonic plague, the most severe form, can spread person-to-person through airborne droplets and is fatal without prompt treatment. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and blood-streaked sputum. If confirmed, this would be Russia's first case of plague since 2016.