US President Donald Trump announced he would soon discuss the death of a lab worker at a Siberian plague research facility with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump indicated they were engaged in “very deep discussions” and that he expected to provide updates on the talks, possibly by Thursday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that no phone call had been scheduled yet, stating Russia’s reporting of the death to the World Health Organization followed standard protocol. He dismissed media coverage as spreading “false information.”
Peskov also denied knowledge of a formal diplomatic message from the US requesting additional details.
Russian authorities are investigating the cause of death of the 28-year-old worker. Those who had contact with the individual tested negative, and the illness has not been confirmed as pneumonic plague, which is described as a highly virulent lung infection.
Earlier, the World Health Organization’s director-general urged Russia to provide transparent information.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that timely, complete, and transparent sharing under the International Health Regulations is crucial to resolve conflicting reports and accurately assess public health risks.
The WHO notes pneumonic plague has an incubation period as short as 24 hours and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Transmission can occur through respiratory droplets; symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing, often with blood-tinged phlegm.
Reports surfaced on Friday indicating nearly 200 people in Siberia’s Irkutsk region were placed under observation following the worker’s death.
The deceased, identified by Russian media as Darya Shipilova, is said to have fallen ill a few days prior.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she may have contracted the pathogen after breaking a test tube at the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East, or during a field trip to a natural plague zone among wild rodents.
Russian health officials have downplayed these theories, with Rospotrebnadzor attributing the death to “pneumonia of an undetermined cause.”
Speculation surrounding the death has intensified tensions between Russia and the US, raising concerns about potential wider spread.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US has measures ready to assist Russia if the situation proves more serious than currently claimed.
The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, is known to circulate among rodents such as marmots in the region.
Historical context: The disease killed up to half of Europe’s population during the 14th century, known as the Black Death.
The Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East was established over a century ago, in the 1920s, in response to earlier outbreaks.
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