Donald Trump has offered US assistance to Vladimir Putin as Russian authorities respond to a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak in Siberia.
More than 200 people are reportedly under medical observation in Irkutsk, near Russia’s border with Mongolia, while four hospitals have been closed for a three-week quarantine.
The measures followed the death of Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician who reportedly became ill after breaking a test tube containing plague bacteria at a Siberian research institute.
Shipilova spent several days in hospital before dying from what Russian officials described as “pneumonia of unknown etiology”. Around 60 of her colleagues remain isolated at the institute amid concerns that she may have contracted pneumonic plague.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Mr Trump said the United States would help Russia deal with the situation.
“Well, we’re looking at it very strongly. We just heard about it, and they call it pneumonia,” he said.
“And pneumonia, you know, years ago you could treat pneumonia easier. The microbes and the germs have gotten stronger disproportionately, but we’ll help them.”
Russia’s health watchdog has denied that an accident took place at the institute, saying expanded testing found no microorganisms linked to Shipilova’s work.
Alexei Tsydenov, head of neighbouring Buryatia, initially said she had died of plague before later stating that she had only “possibly” contracted the disease. Authorities have cancelled public events in Irkutsk, while law enforcement is reportedly investigating possible health and safety violations.
Regional governor Igor Kobzev described the situation as stable, as officials sought to play down fears of wider transmission.
US monitoring suspected pneumonic plague outbreak
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said Washington was “watching and monitoring it closely”. He acknowledged that an outbreak could “quickly spread”, but said there was no immediate cause for concern, pointing to the limited travel between the US and Russia.
“I don’t think it’s cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus and a cause to just keep an eye on it. And we’re doing that,” Mr Rubio said.
The US State Department said it was monitoring the situation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government partners. It urged Russian authorities to share accurate information “quickly and openly”.
Pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can pass between people through respiratory particles during close contact. It can be treated with antibiotics, particularly when treatment begins promptly.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. People are typically infected through the bite of an infected flea or contact with an animal, although the disease can develop into pneumonic plague, its most serious form.
Reports say up to five hospitals in and around Irkutsk have been placed in “epidemic” mode, with some staff and patients prevented from leaving. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have also tightened health controls at their borders.
There have been reports of residents rushing to pharmacies and medical facilities for supplies, amid claims that medicines used to treat the disease are running short in the region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the public should rely on official information from Rospotrebnadzor rather than rumours and speculation.
