US Closely Monitoring Suspected Russian Plague Leak... Trump Says "Ready to Help Russia"

Suspected Pathogen Leak at Russian Plague Research Institute
Trump: "Nasty Disease... U.S. Will Offer Assistance to Russia"

AP Yonhap News

The United States government has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation following a suspected pathogen leak at a plague research institute in Siberia, Russia, which resulted in the death of one researcher. U.S. President Donald Trump also announced that the United States is prepared to assist Russia if necessary. Although Russian health authorities belatedly implemented quarantine measures, concerns have been raised that if the pathogen spreads overseas, it could lead to a widespread outbreak similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On October 5 (local time), President Trump addressed the suspected leak of the plague pathogen in Russia at a press conference, stating, "Russia is facing a major issue, and it is a very nasty disease," adding, "The United States will do whatever it can to help Russia."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said, "We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the suspected plague-related fatality in Russia," and added, "While it is not currently an alarm-level situation, it’s still something that requires vigilance. If it spreads outside, it could escalate rapidly."

Russian health authorities announced that they have strengthened quarantine measures and isolated the institute and nearby areas where the incident occurred. According to TASS, Russian authorities revealed the previous day that the researcher involved in the suspected pathogen leak died after being diagnosed with 'pneumonia of unknown cause.' Subsequently, the hospital where the deceased researcher had been transferred, as well as the research institute, were placed under observation, with about 200 people designated for quarantine monitoring. Russian authorities are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact type of pathogen that leaked.

Earlier, on September 25, a suspected pathogen leak occurred at the Irkutsk Plague Control Research Institute in Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia. A 28-year-old female researcher at the institute accidentally broke a test tube containing the pathogen. She was hospitalized on September 29 after developing severe pneumonia symptoms and passed away during the night between October 1 and 2.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.