Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic management, told reporters that the agency does not know what caused the death of 28‑year‑old lab worker Darya Shipilova on Oct. 2 and that it needs more information.

Russia’s public‑health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said extensive testing found no evidence that the lab worker’s illness was caused by plague pathogens. Russian authorities also state she died of pneumonia, not plague, and among roughly 200 contacts monitored, cases of COVID‑19 and rhinovirus have been identified.

The WHO is also seeking clarification about unconfirmed media reports of a second pneumonia case of ‘undetermined cause’ that may be linked to the Irkutsk Anti‑Plague Research Institute.

Experts quoted in the article note that a lack of transparency fuels public distrust and hampers an effective outbreak response, underscoring why open data matters in health emergencies.

These requests highlight a broader lesson: when a possible deadly disease emerges, rapid and transparent sharing of data allows health agencies to assess risks, coordinate actions, and maintain public confidence, whereas secrecy can delay crucial interventions.