Russia Blames Rumours After Plague Lab Tech’s Sudden Death

Tue Oct 06 2026 15:40:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Kremlin spokesman urges calm after Siberian lab worker dies; US offers support amid investigation.

A Soviet‑era plague research lab in Siberia has lost a technician, sparking rumours that the Kremlin is trying to silence the public. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned people against listening to unverified claims and told Russians to check only official sources, as the death was officially recorded as pneumonia of unknown origin. Meanwhile, the BBC questioned whether President Donald Trump’s offer of assistance, which was previously extended, still applies after the incident. The story sheds light on how governments manage information during health emergencies and underscores the potential for international cooperation even in tense moments.

Russia Blames Rumours After Plague Lab Tech’s Sudden Death

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged Russians not to “listen to various rumours” after a lab technician at a plague‑research centre in Siberia died. The official cause of death was listed as “pneumonia of unknown origin” by the country’s public‑health watchdog.

Peskov told the public to rely only on government‑approved information. The BBC asked whether President Donald Trump’s earlier offer of help to Russia for the project would still stand after the incident.

<a href='https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv5yn3nwp5n5o' style='color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none;'>More on this story: US “watching closely” after plague researcher dies in Russia</a>