Mystery surrounds worker's death at Russian disease research lab

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 21:48 · Archive

The World Health Organization said it does not know what caused a young worker's death at a Russian laboratory studying plague and other severe diseases.

The World Health Organization said Saturday it does not know what caused a young worker's death at a Russian laboratory that focuses on plague and other illnesses. The case emerged earlier this month. Initial unconfirmed reports suggested pneumonic plague, a disease less common than bubonic plague. Pneumonic plague spreads from person to person and causes severe pneumonia, though recovery rates are high if detected and treated in time.

Russian health officials said they had conducted more than 5,500 tests and found no evidence of dangerous pathogenic microorganisms. The WHO said in its first full Disease Outbreak News on the case that additional clinical, epidemiological and laboratory information, including confirmation of the diagnosis in the deceased worker, was needed to improve confidence in the assessment.

The WHO also referred to a purported second case, which it previously attributed to unspecified reports in Russia cited by tabloid news outlets in Britain and Serbia.

How it is being reported

• Mystery surrounds young worker's death at Russia lab studying severe diseasesThe World Health Organization says it still doesn't know what caused the death of a young worker at a Russian lab focused on plague and other illnesses.Clickorlando · 10 Oct, 21:13
• Mystery surrounds young worker's death at Russia lab studying severe diseasesThe World Health Organization says it still doesn't know what caused the death of a young worker at a Russian lab focused on plague and other illnesses.News4Jax · 10 Oct, 21:13

In this story: World Health Organization · Russia

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