Trump says will speak to Putin on plague, after death of Russian lab tech

In September 2023, Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia, died of pneumonic plague after breaking a test tube and contracting the disease. Around 200 people who had contact with her were put into quarantine to prevent an outbreak. The incident prompted Russian officials like Governor Igor Kobzev to enforce strict measures, including mask mandates and hospital quarantines. Russia's Chief State Sanitary Doctor, Anna Popova, rushed to Siberia to manage the situation. There are concerns that the outbreak might be covered up by the government, similar to the initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China. The U.S. State Department is monitoring the situation closely and has urged Russia to share accurate information promptly. Despite fears of a widespread outbreak, health officials emphasize that pneumonic plague can be treated with common antibiotics if caught early. Overall, the broader situation remains stable according to Rospotrebnadzor, though concerns about transparency persist.