WHO seeks answers about Russian lab worker’s death

The World Health Organization is seeking more information from Russia about the death of a 28-year-old employee at a plague research institute in Siberia. Russian authorities have described her illness as pneumonia of unknown cause. Reports that she may have broken a vial containing plague bacteria have not been verified.

Russia told the WHO that tests found no pathogens linked to the woman’s laboratory work and that investigators found no evidence of an outbreak, according to NPR and MedPage Today. The WHO said it does not yet have the full picture and needs timely, complete information. Reports said as many as 200 people were placed under medical observation. The WHO later said Russia reported that monitoring of identified contacts had ended without dangerous pathogens being detected. Reports of a second person with pneumonia remain unverified. The U.S. State Department has formally requested more information from Russia, NPR and The Hill reported.