Irkutsk:A laboratory worker's death in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast is under close scrutiny by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to suspicions that pneumonic plague may be involved.

According to Anadolu Agency, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier announced during a briefing in Geneva that the woman died from severe pneumonia on October 2. However, an official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

Russian authorities conducted an epidemiological investigation after the woman, an employee at the Irkutsk Scientific Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East, was identified with community-acquired pneumonia. Initial symptoms resembled an acute respiratory viral infection. Tests revealed no pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases among her contacts.

The WHO sought information from Russian authorities on October 3 and offered assistance. Lindmeier stated that, based on unofficial information, the public health risk to the general population is deemed low. The initial risk assessment rated it as "moderate to low" for Irkutsk, "low" for Russia, and "very low" for the WHO European region.