Countries neighbouring Russia are tightening health and border controls following concerns over a possible plague case in Siberia.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have introduced additional health screening and monitoring measures after the death of a laboratory worker in Russia’s Irkutsk region.
Mongolia has also stepped up health surveillance and monitoring at its border with Russia.
The concerns began after a 28-year-old female employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute died on October 2 after developing severe pneumonia.
Reports suggested she may have been exposed to plague bacteria at the research facility, although Russian health authorities have described her illness as pneumonia of unknown cause and say no plague infection has been confirmed.
Around 200 people who had contact with the woman have been placed under medical observation, while the hospital where she was treated has also faced quarantine measures.
The World Health Organisation says it has asked Russia for further information, including details of laboratory tests conducted on the woman and those under observation.
WHO has also asked Russia to clarify reports of a second employee at the institute developing pneumonia of an undetermined cause.
Russian authorities have rejected reports of a confirmed plague outbreak, with the Kremlin warning against what it called false information surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, the United States and European health authorities are monitoring the situation.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk to the United States is currently extremely low.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has also said there are currently no reports of secondary cases or evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
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