Cause of Russian Lab Worker’s Death Remains Unclear

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was concerned about reports of a Russian laboratory worker’s death from pneumonia of unknown cause, and said the United States was willing to help. Russian health authorities have not confirmed that plague was involved, and the cause of death remains unclear. Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House on Monday, October 5, saying he had not yet spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He described the illness as a rough disease and said the United States would help. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials were monitoring the situation but that he did not consider it cause for alarm. Russia’s consumer and public-health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, said the 28-year-old woman worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East and died of pneumonia of unknown cause. The agency said tests found no microorganisms linked to her work in her samples, and that an inspection found no emergency involving pathogenic microorganisms at the institute. Rospotrebnadzor also said no other infectious diseases were identified among traced contacts who were tested. Two tested positive for COVID-19 and two for rhinoviruses.