Russia Denies Special Plague Measures as Washington Calls for Transparency

Russian authorities on Tuesday denied taking special measures to combat plague in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, following reports of the death of an employee at an institute specializing in fighting the disease.

The reports concerned a female employee at the institute. The available account did not establish the cause of her death or confirm any link to plague.

The Russian denial focused on whether special anti-plague measures had been introduced in the region. It did not, in the information provided, resolve the circumstances surrounding the reported death.

Washington, meanwhile, called on Moscow to show greater “transparency” about the situation, seeking more clarity as questions remained over the reports.