Russia plague: What we know about the suspected case reportedly linked to a lab worker’s death

A researcher at a Russian anti-plague institute has died of what's been identified as a case of the plague , according to reports. Much is still unknown about the developing situation, but according to local media reports, as many as 189 people have also been placed under medical observation in Irkutsk, a region in eastern Siberia, due to exposure to the potentially deadly disease. The World Health Organization said it was aware of reports that a laboratory worker in Irkutsk oblast died of severe pneumonia on 2 October 2026, and that it had offered support to Russia. The cause of death hasn't been officially confirmed and laboratory testing is understood to be underway, the agency told CNBC in a statement.