A big relief news related to international health organizations and Russia is coming out. Russian authorities have officially informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that no cases of plague have been recorded in the Siberian city of Irkutsk. Let us tell you that in the same city last week, a lab technician of the Plague Research Institute died under suspicious circumstances, after which concern had increased at the global level. According to global health rules, it was mandatory for Russia to give an official response to WHO's request within 24 hours. Russia gave official confirmation to WHO. Russia had earlier informed WHO that its senior officials were seriously investigating whether the death of the lab technician was due to pneumonic plague. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmayr then read out Russia's official response during a press briefing. According to this response, there are currently no cases of this dangerous and contagious disease in the city of Irkutsk. Russian officials also assured WHO that they had immediately identified all those who came in contact with the deceased lab technician and that all test results for dangerous infectious pathogens had returned completely negative. Update on people tested and quarantined Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's body responsible for monitoring and controlling infectious diseases, issued a detailed statement saying that other employees of the Plague Research Institute in Irkutsk have also not received any symptoms or information about any infectious disease during the last 10 days. Furthermore, detailed tests of the body revealed that no harmful microorganisms related to her workplace were found in the body of the deceased woman. Elena Sofina, deputy head of the Shelekhov district near Irkutsk, informed the media that about 60 percent of the people kept in quarantine as a precaution have now been declared completely healthy and released. International reaction and US statement Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Russia should share with the world all the scientific facts related to the death of the lab technician of the Plague Research Institute with more transparency. He said that America is monitoring this entire incident very closely and if the situation becomes serious, America has options to provide necessary assistance to Russia. Earlier on Monday, US President Donald Trump had also made it clear that if necessary, America will fully assist Russia in this health matter.
