Russia has rejected reports of a second suspected infection connected to a plague research laboratory in Siberia, insisting that health investigations have found no evidence of dangerous pathogens among people exposed to a deceased employee.Russia’s health regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, dismissed social media claims suggesting another individual had fallen ill after contact with laboratory worker Darya Shipilova.

Shipilova, 28, worked at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk and died on October 2 after developing pneumonia. Authorities have not established the precise cause of her illness.The regulator said health checks had been completed for people who came into contact with Shipilova. Nearly 5,000 laboratory tests reportedly detected no dangerous pathogenic microorganisms or related infectious diseases.

Russia Denies Epidemic Risk Amid WHO Concerns

Russian officials maintain that there is no immediate epidemic risk associated with the incident.However, the World Health Organization has requested additional information following reports that another laboratory employee developed pneumonia of an undetermined origin.The WHO said it needed clarification from Russian authorities to assess the situation accurately. International attention has increased because the laboratory handles research involving potentially dangerous infectious diseases.

Despite denying a second infection, Russian authorities have not definitively confirmed whether Shipilova’s death was connected to plague.The uncertainty has prompted questions about laboratory safety, disease surveillance and the transparency of information shared with international health organisations.The United States has also sought further clarification regarding the incident, adding to international scrutiny of Russia’s handling of the investigation.

Russian health officials insist that precautionary measures and testing have been conducted and that no evidence supports claims of an additional infection.The case highlights the importance of timely communication when unexplained deaths occur in facilities researching serious infectious diseases.For now, the reported second case remains unconfirmed, while the cause of Shipilova’s fatal pneumonia is still unresolved.