Russia dismisses reports of second plague case as ‘false information’

Russia has dismissed media reports of a second suspected case of pneumonic plague in Siberia, as the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Moscow to formally respond to its inquiry regarding the reports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that “the vast majority of what the media is reporting regarding this situation is false information”, in response to a question about reports of a second case.

Peskov said that information on the suspected cases should be derived from official statements by Russia’s health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor.

Russia’s health regulator said there were no infections detected among staff after a plague institute worker died from pneumonia. The origin of the illness remains unknown, prompting international concern that the case could involve the plague.

Russia acknowledged on Sunday that a 28-year-old woman employed at a plague research institute in Siberia’s Irkutsk died after she was diagnosed with a “pneumonia of unknown aetiology”, prompting global concern over a suspected plague case.

The United States, the European Union and the WHO have all called on Russia to be transparent about the situation.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether it’s possible the infection was from a bioweapon, “We do not think so.”

“They are saying it is very much under control,” he said, adding “Russia is not saying much either.”