Russian health agency dismisses risk of plague epidemic
A laboratory technician studying the disease died after allegedly being infected
TL;DR
- A 28-year-old laboratory technician in Irkutsk, Russia, reportedly died from plague after a test tube broke.
- Russia's health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, denies an epidemic risk and claims the death was due to pneumonia.
- The agency states that medical monitoring of over 90% of contacts showed no health problems.
- International bodies, including the WHO, the US, and the EU, have requested transparency from Moscow.
- Rospotrebnadzor asserts the laboratory followed safety standards and that the deceased employee was vaccinated.
- Precautionary anti-epidemic measures have been implemented.