Russia’s federal consumer and health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, issued a statement on Thursday denying claims that a second person had become ill after contact with a laboratory worker who was suspected of having pneumonic plague. The agency called the reports “fake” and said there was no evidence of a second infection.
Rospotrebnadzor did not provide any new details about the laboratory worker’s illness or the circumstances of their death. Nor did it explain the extensive emergency measures that have been implemented in the affected region.
The laboratory worker’s case has attracted international attention because of the highly contagious nature of pneumonic plague. However, the Russian authorities have not released further information about the outbreak’s scope or the steps being taken to contain it.
Officials have urged the public to rely on official updates and to avoid spreading unverified information. The agency’s statement was issued in response to social‑media posts that suggested a second case had emerged.
Rospotrebnadzor’s clarification comes amid ongoing concerns about the region’s preparedness and the potential for wider spread of the disease. No additional data were provided at this time.
<small>Source: PBS NewsHour — read the original story there.</small>
