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A satellite image shows the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk, Russia, May 8, 2025.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGoogle\/Airbus via Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe action came ahead of what President Donald Trump said was a scheduled call between him and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Trump on Tuesday told reporters at the White House that the call had been scheduled and would happen “very soon,” adding that it would be “probably tomorrow.”<\/p>\n
Trump said their conversation was expected to touch on the heightened scrutiny of Russia’s response after some Russian media and public figures reported a death potentially connected to the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.<\/p>\n
Russian authorities have said only that that the case of the lab worker\u2019s reported death was “pneumonia of an unknown cause,” with the health agency Rospotrebnadzor saying tests showed no link with her work. They issued a statement saying that “no accidents have been detected at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute while working with pathogenic microorganisms.”<\/p>\n
Rospotrebnadzor’s office for the Irkutsk region issued on Tuesday a statement, saying, “A false message is being circulated online about the introduction of an enhanced sanitary and epidemiological regime and strict restrictions in the Irkutsk region.”<\/p>\n
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A view of an infectious diseases hospital in the town of Shelekhov, where an employee of the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute had died, in the Irkutsk region on October 7, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nStringer\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a Tuesday health alert that it was aware of the press reports, saying, “We continue to track the situation closely.” The State Department reminded Americans not to travel to Russia, saying the U.S. government has limited ability to help its citizens who go there. Additional restrictions may be in place for some regions, the embassy said.<\/p>\n
Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that official information would come directly from Rospotrebnadzor, adding, “the media are reporting a great deal right now, and the overwhelming majority of what the media are reporting around this situation is false information.”<\/p>\n
Rospotrebnadzor issued an additional statement Wednesday, stating in part that “the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk Region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is calm” and that “preventive and anti-epidemic measures have been organized in full, and there are no epidemic risks to the population of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Region.”<\/p>\n
“In accordance with the International Health Regulations, Rospotrebnadzor sent information about the situation to the World Health Organization,” the statement further said, adding “preventive and anti-epidemic measures have been organized in full, and there are no epidemic risks to the population of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Region.”<\/p>\n
As Russian officials came under scrutiny, U.S. officials offered to provide assistance. Trump said the U.S. was willing to help Russia after the U.S. State Department announced it was monitoring the reportedly fatal case of “pneumonia of an unknown etiology.”<\/p>\n
“Anybody that has that kind of a problem, we’re always willing to help,” Trump told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n
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A woman walks past the anti-plague institute in the city of Irkutsk on October 7, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTatyana Makeyeva\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAsked about how the U.S. is planning to mitigate the risk coming from Russia, Trump said that his administration is “looking at it very strongly.”<\/p>\n
Russia said it would welcome help from the United States, but also sought to downplay concern.<\/p>\n
“It is always very good when mutual assistance is offered,” Peskov told journalists on Monday. Peskov then appeared to downplay Trump\u2019s suggestion the issue was a \u201cmajor problem for Russia,\u201d telling a journalist he had not heard that framing.<\/p>\n
“To be honest, I did not hear the president\u2019s words that he considers this a major problem for Russia,” Peskov said. “As far as I remember it was not said that way, although I may be mistaken.”<\/p>\n
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked Tuesday in Iceland by ABC News whether he had reason to believe there has been an accidental release of an intentionally modified strain of the plague, said it would “irresponsible for me here to sit and speculate because we just don’t have all the information yet.”<\/p>\n
“I think it’s incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world. That’s what they should do,” the secretary said.<\/p>\n
Rubio said his department was tracking the situation “hour by hour.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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