{
  "id": 12891955,
  "title": "Ukraine’s FM links Russian plague scare to history of cover-ups, from anthrax to Chornobyl and COVID-19",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ukraines-fm-links-russian-plague-scare-to-history-of-cover-ups-from",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-08T14:38:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/10/08/ukraines-fm-links-russian-plague-scare-to-history-of-cover-ups-from-anthrax-to-chornobyl-and-covid-19/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has linked Russia's handling of a suspected pneumonic plague case to a history of concealing information on dangerous incidents, including the 1979 anthrax outbreak, the Chornobyl disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic. A 28-year-old worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, Daria Shipilova, died on October 2nd, leading to her hospital being placed under quarantine and nearly 200 people coming under medical observation. Sybiha has urged Russia to disclose all facts, provide transparent epidemiological data, and cooperate with international mechanisms. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which can be fatal if untreated. Sybiha warns that secrecy surrounding dangerous pathogens is a threat to everyone, calling on the world to demand answers before another catastrophe occurs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for more information from Russia, while US officials acknowledge limited knowledge of the situation.",
  "summary": "Russia's handling of the suspected case fits a broader pattern of concealing information about dangerous incidents, Andrii Sybiha said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Quarantine, unease and rumours: Russian city grapples with plague scare",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/quarantine-unease-and-rumours-russian-city-grapples-with-plague-scare",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:07:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Quarantine, unease and rumours: Russian city grapples with plague scare",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/quarantine-unease-and-rumours-russian-city-grapples-with-plague-scare-12855372",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:19:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Russian city grapples with plague scare",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/russian-city-grapples-with-plague-scare",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:33:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}