‘Rely On Official Statements’: Russia Dismisses ‘False’ Plague Reports Over Suspected Second Case

Last Updated:October 08, 2026, 01:29 IST

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of a second suspected case and urged the public to rely on official sources.

Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute specialists work in a laboratory. (AFP file image)

Russia has rejected reports of a suspected second case of plague in Siberia, calling much of the media coverage “false information” as the United States, European Union and World Health Organization sought greater clarity from Moscow.

The reports centre on an employee at a plague research institute in the Irkutsk region. A 28-year-old woman working at the facility reportedly died after falling ill, with some reports suggesting she may have been exposed to the disease through a broken test tube.

Russian authorities, however, said the woman died from pneumonia and found no evidence linking her illness to plague.

Russia urges reliance on official information

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of a second suspected case and urged the public to rely on official sources.

“The vast majority of what the media is reporting regarding this situation is false information,” Peskov told reporters.

Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said there was “no epidemic risk for the population” following an investigation.

The agency said more than 90% of people who had contact with the woman had completed medical observation, with no signs of infectious disease detected. It also said nearly 5,000 laboratory tests had found no dangerous pathogens.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said no microorganisms connected to the woman’s work had been found in her biological samples.

WHO, US seek greater transparency

The reports have nevertheless prompted concern outside Russia. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Moscow to clarify reports of a second employee with “pneumonia of undetermined cause”.

The European Commission also called on Russia to provide “timely and transparent reporting” on the situation.

US President Donald Trump, asked whether a biological weapon could be involved, said: “We don’t think so. We’re going to find out soon enough.”

Mongolia has meanwhile increased health checks along its border with Russia. Its government said “health surveillance and monitoring measures” were being implemented.

(With inputs from agencies)

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What caused the death of the 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia’s Irkutsk region?

Russian authorities stated that the 28-year-old laboratory worker, identified as Darya Shipilova, died from pneumonia of undetermined etiology or unknown origin. Officials rejected rumors and unverified reports linking her death to a plague infection or a laboratory accident involving a broken test tube.

How have Russian authorities responded to the suspected plague reports and media claims?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the media coverage as false information and urged the public to rely on official statements. Russia’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, reported that laboratory tests found no dangerous pathogens or microorganisms linked to her work, confirming there is no epidemic risk to the population.

What reactions have international bodies and neighboring countries had to the Siberian lab worker’s death?

The World Health Organization, the European Commission, and the United States have called on Moscow for greater transparency and timely reporting regarding the pneumonia case. Meanwhile, Mongolia has increased health checks and surveillance measures along its border with Russia.

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