President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon. This comes as the U.S. tracks reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Siberia. These reports have led to a U.S. health alert and increased precautions in nations bordering Russia.
Trump shared details of the planned call while addressing reporters. When asked if he had already discussed the issue with Putin, he confirmed an upcoming call. “I have a call scheduled, yup,” he stated. On the timing, Trump mentioned it would occur “very soon.”
U.S. Response to Health Alerts
On the same day, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow released a health alert. It cited reports from Russia’s Irkutsk region about a “suspected pneumonic plague” causing the death of an individual, leading to quarantine efforts and hospital shutdowns. The embassy assured continued monitoring.
A State Department official told Fox News Digital that the department, CDC, and other partners are closely observing the situation. “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the spokesperson declared, urging Moscow for more transparency.
The alert advised Americans in affected regions to follow local health guidelines, avoid impacted medical facilities, and seek medical attention if they develop fever or respiratory issues. Travelers to outbreak areas should self-monitor for 14 days. The existing Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia still applies, emphasizing limited U.S. government assistance, especially outside Moscow.
International Health Precautions
Nations bordering Russia, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, are enforcing “enhanced health and sanitary measures.” This action responds to the pneumonic plague reports from Siberia.
A 28-year-old employee from the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute died of pneumonia of unknown origin last week. Russian authorities have not linked her death to plague, stating tests found no pathogenic microorganisms. WHO reports her contacts tested negative for infectious pathogens, assessing the public risk as low.
CDC is also monitoring the situation, working closely with the U.S. government. The agency sees no current threat to the U.S. Pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, spreads via respiratory droplets in close contact. Early identification and antibiotic treatment are effective.
For now, U.S. officials are gathering more details about the Irkutsk incident to determine any broader risk. The president hinted at more information becoming available soon, possibly the next day.
The White House has not commented immediately. Breaking news writer Jasmine Baehr covers politics, military, legal, and cultural topics for Fox News Digital.