WHO says Russia data gap blocks assessment of suspected plague death

On 7 October, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency lacks the data to assess the death of Darya Shipilova, 28, an Irkutsk anti-plague institute worker who died two days after cold-like symptoms. Russia attributes it to pneumonia of unknown cause. Tedros urged transparent sharing to resolve conflicting reports, including on a possible second illness.