US, WHO request details from Russia amid reports of second pneumonia case

What happened: The WHO and the U.S. State Department requested more information from Russia after an Irkutsk anti-plague institute worker died of severe pneumonia. The WHO also asked about media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. Key numbers: The worker died on 2 October 2026. Why it matters: Russia told the WHO no plague case was recently registered in Irkutsk oblast and no high-threat pathogens were found among contacts. The CDC said there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States.

The WHO and the U.S. State Department requested more information from Russia after an Irkutsk anti-plague institute worker died of severe pneumonia. The WHO also asked about media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.

Russia told the WHO no plague case was recently registered in Irkutsk oblast and no high-threat pathogens were found among contacts. The CDC said there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States.