Suspected case · — · Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute
Reports of a second institute employee with pneumonia of unknown cause
The WHO reportedly asked Russia to check reports of a second institute employee with pneumonia of unknown cause. Russian authorities called the reports incorrect; there is no independent confirmation.
How the score changed
Change log (5)
| When | Chance it’s true | Sourcing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct, 20:21 GMT+8 | 3% ▼ 8 | Contradicted · 1 independent / 4 outlets | contradicting evidence: Sun Sentinel (AP) citing Rospotrebnadzor |
| 12 Oct, 17:48 GMT+8 | 11% ▼ 3 | Contradicted · 1 independent / 3 outlets | contradicting evidence: Newsmax (via Yahoo News) citing Russian authorities (unspecified) |
| 12 Oct, 17:48 GMT+8 | 14% ▼ 28 | Contradicted · 1 independent / 2 outlets | contradicting evidence: Iznanka citing Russian authorities (unspecified) |
| 12 Oct, 17:48 GMT+8 | 41% ▲ 16 | Only one original source · 1 independent / 1 outlets | supporting evidence: The US Sun citing World Health Organization |
| 12 Oct, 17:48 GMT+8 | 25% | No source yet · 0 independent / 0 outlets | claim created |
Supporting evidence (1 independent · 1 report)
World Health Organization · original source · official health authority
- Mystery over Russian plague ‘cover-up’ as dead scientist’s family ‘gagged’ in information ‘blackout’The US Sun · tabloid · reliability 30% · 11 Oct 2026
“And the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced last week that it was probing reports of a second case.”
Contradicting evidence (2 independent · 3 reports)
Russian authorities (unspecified) · original source · official governmentrepeated by 2 outlets → counts once
- Newsmax (via Yahoo News) · established media · reliability 70% · 9 Oct 2026
“Authorities also called online claims of a second infection incorrect.”
- Iznanka · independent media · reliability 60% · 10 Oct 2026
“ВОЗ попросила проверить сообщения о втором сотруднике с пневмонией неустановленной причины. Российские власти назвали их недостоверными.”
Rospotrebnadzor · original source · official health authority
- Sun Sentinel (AP) · wire service · reliability 80% · 8 Oct 2026
“Rospotrebnadzor rejected reports about a second person falling ill after coming into contact with the lab worker as fake.”
Context evidence (1 independent · 1 report)
World Health Organization · original source · official health authority
- Sun Sentinel (AP) · wire service · reliability 80% · 8 Oct 2026
“media reports that a second employee had pneumonia of undetermined cause”
Added 12 Oct, 17:48 GMT+8 · updated 13 Oct, 20:21 GMT+8 · origin: scraper. Have a source that confirms or contradicts this? Use submit_evidence with claim id 55 via MCP.