HealthFact check: Misleading claims spark plague fears in Russia

The death of a laboratory worker at Russia’s Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute after severe pneumonia fueled online claims of a plague-virus accident, hundreds of infections and international spread. DW found no independent evidence of a pathogen leak. Russian health authorities said investigations found no biosafety accident, while tests detected no microorganisms tied to the worker’s professional activity. The WHO’s same-day update to its plague fact sheet was part of a broader publication cycle, with no evidence linking it to the case.

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DDW★★★☆☆2026-10-06 11:07Original