Russian authorities have dismissed reports of a second suspected case of plague in Siberia as false, while neighboring countries and international organizations call for transparency amid heightened health concerns.

The situation centers on a 28-year-old woman who worked at a plague research institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia. She reportedly died last week, with initial reports suggesting she may have contracted the infection from a laboratory accident involving a broken test tube. Following these reports, speculation arose about a possible second employee falling ill.

Russian officials have characterized the woman’s cause of death as pneumonia, denying any outbreak risk. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that much of the media coverage on the matter was inaccurate and urged the public to rely on statements from the Russian federal health service, Rospotrebnadzor. The agency confirmed there are no epidemic risks for the population and indicated that the laboratory had followed proper safety protocols when handling pathogenic microorganisms.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, more than 90% of individuals who had contact with the deceased were under medical observation, with no signs of infectious illness detected among them. The agency further reported that nearly 5,000 laboratory tests conducted showed no presence of dangerous pathogens. They also noted that the deceased had been vaccinated and possessed immunity against the dangerous infections handled at the facility.

Despite official reassurances, international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States, and the European Union have called on Russia to provide greater clarity about the incident. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted media reports of a second employee presenting pneumonia of unknown cause at the Irkutsk institute, urging Moscow to clarify the situation.

Mongolia, sharing a border with the affected Russian region, announced increased health monitoring and surveillance efforts at the frontier in response to the developments.

U.S. President Donald Trump, when questioned about the possibility of the incident involving a biological weapon, stated that authorities did not believe that was the case but said investigations were ongoing. He acknowledged official Russian assertions that the situation was under control, while noting past instances where outbreaks were initially underestimated.

The plague is a bacterial disease that manifests in various forms, including pneumonic plague, which is highly contagious through respiratory droplets, and bubonic plague, commonly transmitted by infected fleas. Public health officials are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any potential spread.