Trump to Speak with Putin Amid Health Alert Over Suspected Plague in Russia

President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon. This comes as the U.S. closely watches reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Siberia. The situation has led to heightened health precautions in countries bordering Russia.

Trump mentioned his planned call with Putin while addressing reporters. When asked if he had already spoken with Putin, Trump confirmed he had a call scheduled. “I have a call scheduled, yup,” he said.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert following press reports from Russia’s Irkutsk region. These reports discuss a suspected pneumonic plague causing a fatality, alongside related quarantine measures and hospital closures. “We continue to track the situation closely,” the embassy stated.

The State Department, along with the CDC and other interagency partners, is closely examining the fatal case in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast. A spokesman emphasized the priority of American safety and security. The spokesman also mentioned that many details remain unconfirmed and urged Moscow for clarity. Americans in the area were advised to adhere to local health advice, avoid affected medical facilities, and seek medical care if symptoms develop.

The State Department’s “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia remains unchanged. The embassy reiterated that Americans should leave Russia and warned of limited assistance capabilities, especially outside Moscow.

Neighboring countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are also taking precautionary health measures due to the reports.

A 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute died from pneumonia of unknown origin. Russia hasn’t confirmed it as plague-related and stated no dangerous microorganisms were found in her body. WHO assessed the risk to the public as low.

The CDC continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing there’s no current indication of a threat to the United States. Pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, spreads through respiratory droplets but is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.

The U.S. seeks further information on the Irkutsk incident to assess any broader threats. Trump suggested more details might be available soon. “We’ll be able to report about it probably tomorrow,” he said.