Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said he wanted clarification from the Russian government following unconfirmed reports of ‘a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause’ Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said he wanted clarification from the Russian government following unconfirmed reports of ‘a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause’ Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesWHO says it does not have ‘full picture’ from Russia following suspected plague death‘Transparent information sharing’ from Moscow is required to conduct full risk assessment, UN agency says
The World Health Organization has said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia following the suspected death from plague last week of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia.
Darya Shipilova died two days after falling ill with cold-like symptoms. She was an employee at the anti-plague research institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, with some reports suggesting she was infected after a workplace accident.
The Russian authorities have denied a connection with the institute and say Shipilova died from “pneumonia of an unknown aetiology”. They insist there is no danger of a plague outbreak and have described the “sanitary and epidemiological” situation in the region as stable.
At the same time, officials have imposed sweeping quarantine restrictions at the lab where Shipilova worked and in nearby hospitals. Staff were locked down inside the institute for three days, sleeping on the floors and on chairs, while tests were conducted.
On Wednesday the WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We don’t yet have the full picture of this event and we’re not able to conduct a full risk assessment.
“Timely, complete and transparent information sharing is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public risks.”
Tedros said he also wanted more clarification from the Russian government following unconfirmed media reports of “a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause”. “We assess any reporting from the community,” he said. “We asked Russia to respond to that. We’re waiting for an answer.”
The WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic management, Maria Van Kerkhove, said the agency still did not know how Shipilova became infected in the first place – and with what viral disease. If pneumonic plague was ruled out, “what did she actually die from?” Kerkhove asked.
In an interview with local media, Shipilova’s 64-year-old mother, Svetlana, discounted the theory that her daughter had been infected after smashing a test tube. “I know the truth. I’m fending off stupid friends who believe this. A test tube is unbreakable, even if you throw it against the wall,” she said.
She described her daughter as a dedicated worker and “pure person” devoted to her job. Former classmates are also sceptical she was infected at her workplace. One reportedly said: “They’ve smeared a woman without properly investigating. Knowing how hardworking and responsible she was, it just doesn’t add up for me.”
The Kremlin has sought to downplay the incident and has brushed aside an offer of assistance made earlier this week by Donald Trump, the US president. The White House has pressed Moscow for more details of the case, while stressing the risk to the US is very low.
On Tuesday Trump said he would speak about the plague issue “very soon” with Vladimir Putin, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday. The Kremlin said no call had been arranged but could be quickly organised.
According to the Baikal Medical Journal, health officials in Irkutsk have taken extensive measures to stop a potential outbreak from spreading. Neighbours said workers in white protective suits and gas masks disinfected the two-storey brick building where Shipilova lived several times after her death last Friday.
“The smell was unbearable and very pungent,” a woman in her 40s said. “A woman knocked on our door. I said: ‘What are you treating here?’ I already knew about the plague rumours. She said: ‘It’s for cockroaches.’ But we don’t even have any cockroaches in our building. I saw her packing her overalls into a bag. I was like, ‘Well, I get it.’”
