WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing

Drew a response: WHO says 'low' risk in Russia following plague reports

• WHO (🇺🇳) said reports of suspected pneumonic plague in an Irkutsk laboratory worker emerged on 2 October. per the outlets, naming no source¹ 1
  • The Irkutsk laboratory worker died after hospitalisation with severe pneumonia.¹ 1
  • Claimed Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague followed accidental laboratory exposure. per the outlets, naming no source Read with skepticism: unnamed source, too early to know¹ 1
• Claimed The Russian Federation (🇷🇺) told WHO (🇺🇳) no plague case had recently been reported in Irkutsk oblast. per Russia (🇷🇺) Read with skepticism: record of concealment, no evidence shown¹ 1 disputed
  • Claimed The Russian Federation (🇷🇺) said about 200 contacts had been placed in quarantine. per Russia (🇷🇺)¹ 1
• Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) requested further information from the Russian Federation (🇷🇺). per WHO (🇺🇳)¹ 1
  • Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) requested laboratory test details for the deceased worker and the worker's contacts. per WHO (🇺🇳)¹ 1
  • Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) requested reasons for the public health measures and the contacts' health status. per WHO (🇺🇳)¹ 1
• Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) sought verification of media reports about a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.¹ 1
• Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) said incomplete information prevented a full risk assessment of the event.¹ 1
• Confirmed WHO (🇺🇳) offered technical support on plague, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. per WHO (🇺🇳)¹ 1

The reports (1)

• WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing – 7 October 2026who.int · 7 Oct, 00:00