Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Trump Plans Putin Call as US and WHO Seek Plague Information
A worker at a research institute in Siberia died after developing pneumonia.
Some news reports said a broken test tube might have exposed her to plague, but Russian officials said tests did not find plague.
They say the exact cause of her illness is still unknown.
Reports said people who may have been near her were quarantined or medically monitored.
Russia told the World Health Organization that there was no confirmed plague case in Irkutsk.
The United States and the WHO have asked Russia to share more details.
President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with President Vladimir Putin very soon.
The WHO said the risk in Irkutsk was moderate to low and the risk outside Russia was very low.
Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has a call scheduled with Vladimir Putin “very soon” about reports of a possible plague case at a research institute in Siberia.
Media reports said 28-year-old technician Darya Shipilova may have contracted pneumonic plague after a broken test tube; reports also said up to 200 contacts were quarantined or monitored.
Russian officials said Shipilova died of pneumonia with the exact cause undetermined, and postmortem tests found no plague or microorganisms linked to her work.
The United States and the World Health Organization urged Moscow to share more information; Russia told the WHO it had recorded no confirmed plague case in Irkutsk.
The WHO assessed the risk in Irkutsk as moderate to low and the risk outside Russia as very low, based on available information.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, technician Darya Shipilova, and Russian and WHO health authorities.
- What
- Trump said he had a call scheduled with Putin about reports of possible plague linked to a laboratory employee’s death.
- When
- Trump made the statement Tuesday; reports placed the incident the previous week.
- Where
- An anti-plague research institute in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, Russia.
- Why
- US and WHO officials sought more information amid conflicting reports about the death and possible public-health risks.
US and WHO Seek More Information
Russia Rejects Plague Claims
Information sharing
US and WHO Seek More Information
US officials and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for more information and transparency to clarify reports and assess possible risks.
Russia Rejects Plague Claims
Russian authorities said there was no confirmed plague case in Irkutsk and dismissed an online document claiming special anti-plague measures as unofficial and untrue.
Possible plague link
US and WHO Seek More Information
Media reports raised the possibility that Shipilova contracted pneumonic plague after a laboratory accident, prompting requests for further information.
Russia Rejects Plague Claims
Russian officials said tests did not detect plague, described the death as pneumonia of undetermined cause, and said no microorganisms linked to her work were found in her samples.
Contact precautions
US and WHO Seek More Information
Media reports said up to 200 people who may have had contact with Shipilova were quarantined.
Russia Rejects Plague Claims
Russia told the WHO it had identified contacts for medical monitoring and laboratory testing; reports differed on whether contacts were quarantined or monitored.
- Reported technician
- Darya Shipilova, 28, according to media reports.
- Reported cause of death
- Russian officials said she died of pneumonia; the exact cause was undetermined.
- Test findings
- Officials said postmortem tests detected no plague and no microorganisms linked to her work were found in her samples.
- Possible exposure
- Media reports suggested a broken test tube may have been involved; reports said up to 200 contacts were quarantined or monitored.
- Trump’s statement
- Trump said he had a call scheduled with Putin “very soon” and that US officials were in deep discussions.
- US request
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia to share more information; a Wall Street Journal report said the State Department sent Moscow a confidential diplomatic communication.
- WHO assessment
- The WHO said Russia reported no confirmed plague case in Irkutsk; it assessed the local risk as moderate to low and risk outside Russia as very low.
- Russian investigation
- Russia told the WHO it was investigating a case of community-acquired pneumonia and had identified contacts for monitoring and laboratory testing.
Sources
After Offering US Help, Trump Says He'll Speak To Putin 'Very Soon' Over Reported Plague Death
Siberia plague scare: Trump to speak with Putin as Moscow downplays fears; Kremlin asks Russians to avoid rumours
Scheduled call with Putin to discuss possible case of pneumonic plague in Russia: Trump
Trump to speak to Putin 'very soon' as US, UN press Russia over plague death
US President Trump to speak with Russian President Putin over possible plague case at Siberian institute
Trump To Speak To Putin On Plague As US Steps Up Pressure
Trump and Putin To Discuss Russia’s Suspected Plague Case | WHO Issues Assessment | News18
