Verification of the death prompted requests for tests, contact data and information on a second pneumonia case

On October 7, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced further questions for Russia. The United Nations health agency requested detailed test results, the grounds for sanitary measures and information about contacts’ health.

He reconstructed the exchange: the first request was sent on October 3 and Russia’s response arrived on October 6. The response was insufficient for a full risk assessment; the organization offered technical assistance.

It separately requested verification of reports about a second employee with pneumonia. This is not confirmation of a second plague case, and certainly not a report of a second death.

The Russian agency announced completion of its measures the same day, reporting almost 5,000 tests without dangerous pathogens. The complete results and attachments to the exchange with the international organization have not been publicly obtained.