Russia’s denial of a plague case reached Chinese audiences

On October 7, Xinhua, China’s state news agency, relayed Russian statements that there was no plague case and reports from the World Health Organization, the United Nations health agency.

The publication is dated 20:29:03 China time, which matches Irkutsk time. It continues the international circulation of Russia’s explanation.

A state news agency article does not replace a separate statement by China’s government. This investigation has not established a verified independent response by Chinese foreign-affairs, medical or customs authorities to the episode. This does not prove that no nonpublic action occurred.