Abstract:
The World Health Organization is urging Russia to provide more information about the death of a plague laboratory worker, saying the information disclosed so far is insufficient to determine the risk posed by the case. The international body that coordinates responses to global health threats initially asked Russia on Saturday for more information about the death of the lab worker. Russia responded three days later, confirming media reports that some 200 contacts had been quarantined.
Maria Van Kerkhove, Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Management at WHO, said that although Russia told WHO that no cases of plague have been recorded in the region and relevant contacts have been confirmed to be normal, there are still questions to be answered. As the situation remains unclear, the WHO no longer maintains the "low risk to the general population" judgment made earlier this week.
“We are pushing to get information from our side through the International Health Regulations and through all the channels at our disposal,” Van Kerkhove said. "Please give us some time to deal with this."
The case in Russia has attracted global attention, and U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders have responded. Part of the reason is that it's reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic, when there was so much uncertainty and little information about the emergence of the deadly respiratory disease.
Trump also alluded to this nervousness when answering questions from reporters at the White House on Wednesday afternoon.
He said: "Russia is not saying much right now. But they do say they are completely under control."
When asked if biological weapons were involved, Trump said he didn't think so. He said: "We will find out soon, but we don't think it is. If you listen to them, the situation is under control. But you know, that has been said before on other things."
Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day and plans to discuss the case.
Comments