President Donald Trump expressed concern on October 5 regarding the death of a researcher affiliated with a plague research institute in Russia.
According to Forbes, Trump responded to reporters at the White House who asked if he was worried about a potential plague outbreak, stating, "The bacteria have become relatively much stronger than in the past," and added, "What used to be effective against pneumonia is not working as well anymore."
He continued, "We will help them (Russia). We will do everything we can to assist them," although he did not specify what kind of support would be provided.
Trump's comments come amid growing suspicions surrounding the death of a researcher in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, where the possibility of plague infection has been raised.
The plague is an infectious disease caused by the plague bacterium. Particularly, pneumonic plague can be transmitted between people through respiratory droplets, making it highly contagious and deadly. However, if detected early and treated with appropriate antibiotics, recovery is possible.
Earlier reports from local Russian media indicated that a 28-year-old woman working at a plague control research institute in Irkutsk broke a test tube containing plague pathogens on September 25. She was later hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms and died between October 1 and 2.
Russian authorities have since placed about 200 individuals who had contact with the deceased under observation in a hospital.
As local media cited sources suggesting the deceased may have contracted pneumonic plague, concerns about the spread of the disease have intensified, prompting a response from Russian authorities. However, they have not yet clarified the exact cause of the researcher's pneumonia and death, nor whether she was infected with the plague.
While Russian authorities have stated that the situation is stable, suspicions continue to linger, and the United States is closely monitoring the situation. Axios reported on October 4 that the White House is tracking reports related to the researcher’s death and the emergency quarantine measures taken by Russian authorities. A Trump administration official stated, "We are aware of the situation and are reviewing response options while monitoring the outbreak."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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