U.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Siberia, amid international concern over the unexplained illness.
The worker, Darya Shipilova, died on October 2 after developing pneumonia of undetermined origin while employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
Russian authorities have not confirmed that she died from pneumonic plague and say extensive testing has found no evidence that her illness was linked to pathogens handled at the facility. They have also denied reports of a second infection and say there is no indication of an epidemic.
Trump said he did not believe the incident was connected to a biological weapon and indicated that Washington was closely monitoring developments.
The U.S. has formally sought additional information from Moscow, while the World Health Organization has urged Russia to provide timely and transparent details to clarify conflicting reports and allow a proper assessment of any public health risk.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency does not yet have a complete picture of the incident and is seeking further information about the laboratory tests carried out on the deceased worker.
Russian officials, however, maintain that the situation is under control and that standard reporting procedures have been followed.
Authorities initially placed about 200 people under medical observation following the death, while thousands of tests were subsequently conducted among people who had contact with the deceased. No confirmed plague cases have been identified.
The development has nevertheless drawn heightened international attention because of the worker’s employment at a facility specialising in plague research and the limited information surrounding the cause of her death.
Pneumonic plague is a severe form of plague that affects the lungs and can spread through respiratory droplets, but the disease has not been confirmed in this case.
While Trump said a conversation with Putin was being arranged, Kremlin officials said no call had been scheduled at the time, although Moscow indicated it was open to discussions.
The U.S., WHO and other international health authorities continue to monitor the situation as Russian officials investigate the circumstances surrounding the laboratory worker’s death.
