Trump to Speak With Putin Over Suspected Plague Case in Russia as Second Death Reports Emerge

 

Trump to Speak With Putin Over Suspected Plague Case in Russia as Second Death Reports Emerge

US President Donald Trump says he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as international concern grows over a mysterious death linked to a research institute that studies plague and other dangerous pathogens in Siberia.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that a conversation with Putin was scheduled and that the suspected case would be among the issues discussed. He said US officials were engaged in detailed discussions about the situation and expected to have more information soon. 

The concern centres on the death of 28-year-old laboratory worker Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East. She died on 2 October after developing a severe illness.

Russian health authorities have said the cause was pneumonia of unknown origin and have not confirmed that she was infected with plague. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's health watchdog, has also said testing found no microorganisms associated with her work and that no plague cases had been detected among her contacts. 

Reports of second death remain unconfirmed

The situation attracted further attention after reports circulated in Russian and international media claiming that a second person had died amid fears of a possible outbreak.

However, the reported second death has not been independently confirmed, and Russian authorities had not publicly acknowledged it as a plague-related death at the time of reporting. 

Authorities initially placed around 200 people who may have had contact with Shipilova under observation or quarantine as a precaution. Some have since been released, and available official information has not identified symptomatic secondary cases. 

WHO says wider risk remains low

The World Health Organization is communicating with Russian authorities and has requested additional information about the circumstances surrounding the death and laboratory testing.

According to the WHO, no cause of death had been officially confirmed as of 6 October. Contacts were being monitored, and none had reportedly developed symptoms.

Based on the information available, the WHO assessed the risk as moderate-to-low locally, low for Russia overall and very low for the wider WHO European Region. 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has similarly said there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

US calls for more information

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Russia to provide more information about the case, saying Washington is following developments closely.

Trump previously said the United States was prepared to provide assistance to Russia if necessary. 

The Kremlin has welcomed the offer of assistance, while Russian authorities maintain that the epidemiological situation is under control.

For now, international health authorities are continuing to monitor developments while awaiting definitive laboratory results.