US monitoring suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia, State Department official says

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   US Monitors Suspected Pneumonic Plague Case in Russia

   The United States government is monitoring reports of a suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia after a 28-year-old laboratory worker named Darya Shipilova died in the Siberian region of Irkutsk. Health authorities in Russia launched anti-epidemic measures, placing nearly 200 people under observation and quarantine. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department and the CDC are urging Moscow to share accurate information and details regarding the incident. President Donald Trump stated he will speak with Vladimir Putin very soon as some U.S. political figures call for sweeping travel restrictions involving Russia.

   Why it matters

   The incident has triggered global alarm and international scrutiny regarding safety protocols at Russian research facilities. Key details remain unverified, with conflicting statements from various reports regarding whether plague was actually found in the deceased worker or her contacts. The World Health Organization stated it does not know exactly how the lab employee died, while Russian officials have downplayed the suspected case.

   What is confirmed

   • A 28-year-old laboratory worker named Darya Shipilova died at a Siberian plague research institute in the Irkutsk region.
   • Russian health authorities launched anti-epidemic measures and placed nearly 200 people under observation.
   • The United States State Department and the CDC are monitoring the situation and urging Russia to share accurate information.
   • President Donald Trump stated that he will speak with Vladimir Putin very soon as the U.S. tracks the reports.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Russia stated that no plague was found in the Siberian lab worker or her contacts.
   • The World Health Organization stated it does not know how the lab employee died.
   • Some U.S. political figures are calling for sweeping travel restrictions involving Russia.
   • The incident involved a suspected lab leak of pneumonic plague.

   What to watch next

   • Official clarification from Russian health authorities regarding the cause of death
   • Direct communications between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin
   • Potential implementation of travel restrictions by the United States
   Sources used for this update (29)

   1. The Moscow Times — Nearly 200 People Under Observation After Irkutsk Lab Worker Dies From Plague
   2. Euronews.com — Has plague returned to Siberia? Panic after lab worker's death
   3. Axios — Scoop: White House monitors suspected plague outbreak in Russia
   4. Fox News — US monitoring suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia, State Department official says
   5. WRAL — Researcher at Russian plague laboratory dies of ‘unknown’ infection
   6. rferl.org — US Monitors Suspected Plague Case In Russia As Calls Grow For Travel Restrictions
   7. CNBC — Russia hospitalizes almost 200 people after researcher's death from plague: reports
   8. Al Jazeera — Russian lab worker dies of suspected plague in Siberia; US monitoring case
   9. Forbes — Russian Plague Lab Researcher Death: What We Know About 'Unknown' Pneumonia
   10. abcnews.com — State Department monitoring reported fatal case of pneumonic ...
   11. www.foxnews.com — US monitoring suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Russia, State Department official says
   12. www.yahoo.com — CDC monitoring suspected Russia pneumonic plague lab leak
   confidence 90%