Did Russia play by the rules in reporting lab worker's death?
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That kind of notification is critical if the world is to be ready to respond and contain future outbreaks, says Lawrence Gostin , who directs the WHO Center on Global Health Law and is a professor at Georgetown University.

"This case shows the good, the bad and the ugly of the IHR," he says.

"Legally, this is the only thing that's holding Russia to account," Gostin explains. And yet, "you have countries that are hiding the ball."

He believes that the risk to the general population from the current situation in Russia is likely very low. But, for him, the fact that countries can disregard the IHR notification requirements is a "blaring siren about how unprepared we are" to quickly control health threats.

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