Irkutsk:Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that China maintains close cooperation with Russia on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the plague. This statement followed inquiries about whether Moscow had sought assistance from Chinese authorities or experts concerning the death of a Russian laboratory worker.

According to Anadolu Agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the situation closely after the death of the worker in the Irkutsk region of Russia. The worker, a female, succumbed to severe pneumonia on October 2, though the specific pathogen responsible has not been officially identified.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier reported that Russian authorities have responded to the organization's request for information, correcting an earlier statement that Moscow had not formally replied through International Health Regulations channels. An epidemiological investigation was conducted after community-acquired pneumonia was identified in an employee of the Irkutsk Scientific Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East.

Lindmeier conveyed that the illness initially manifested as a typical acute respiratory viral infection and that test results showed no dangerous infectious disease pathogens among any contacts. The WHO reached out to Russian authorities on October 3, offering support and seeking further information.

Based on available unofficial information, the public health risk to the general population appears to be low. The WHO's risk assessment placed the threat as 'moderate to low' for the Irkutsk region, 'low' for Russia overall, and 'very low' for its European region.