President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to have a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon,” particularly as his administration monitors reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Siberia. This situation has led to a U.S. health alert and prompted increased health measures in several neighboring countries.
During a press briefing, Trump noted that he already had a call arranged with Putin, responding to questions from reporters. “I have a call scheduled, yup,” he confirmed. When pressed for the timing of the call, the president stated it would be “very soon.”
In discussing the issue, Trump indicated that his administration is engaged in “very deep discussions” regarding the reports coming from U.S. intelligence sources. His comments came after the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert, acknowledging news from Russia’s Irkutsk region relating to a “suspected pneumonic plague” death and outlining the quarantines and hospital closures linked to the case.
The embassy stated, “We continue to track the situation closely.” Meanwhile, a State Department spokesperson shared that they, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners, are “closely monitoring the fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague” in Irkutsk Oblast.
The spokesperson underscored that the safety and security of Americans is the administration’s top priority and noted that “many details remain unconfirmed,” urging Moscow to provide clear information. They encouraged Russian authorities to share accurate details quickly.
The alert advised Americans in the vicinity to adhere to local health recommendations, avoid medical facilities under scrutiny, and seek medical attention for any fever or respiratory symptoms. It also recommended that those who visited outbreak areas monitor their health for 14 days. Additionally, the State Department’s existing Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia remains unchanged, with warnings for Americans in Russia to leave due to the government’s limited assistance capabilities outside of Moscow.
Health precautions are also being adopted by neighboring countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in response to the situation reported in Siberia.
Reportedly, a 28-year-old woman who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute passed away from pneumonia of undetermined origin. Russia’s officials have stated there’s no indication that the woman died from plague, and tests found no pathogens related to her profession.
Russian authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that the woman’s contacts tested negative for infectious diseases, and the WHO currently assesses the risk to the public as low. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to observe the developments and indicated that there is no current evidence of a broader threat to the U.S.
Pneumonic plague, a serious bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, can spread through respiratory droplets during close contact and may advance rapidly if not treated. However, it is effectively treatable with antibiotics, especially when identified early.
U.S. officials are actively seeking more information about the incident in Irkutsk and its potential implications. Trump suggested that the administration could provide more updates as soon as Wednesday, stating, “We’ll be able to report about it probably tomorrow.”
The White House has not responded promptly to inquiries for comment on this development.
