Trump says he will hold phone call with Putin soon over suspected plague death in Russia
In short
A woman who worked at a plague research institute in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast fell ill and died on October 2, and suspicion has spread that she was infected with plague. Russian health authorities say the cause was "pneumonia of unknown cause" and deny plague. US President Trump said on October 6 that he will hold a phone call with President Putin soon and that a report could come as early as October 7.
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US President Trump said on October 6 that he will hold a phone call with Russian President Putin soon concerning the death of a woman who worked at a plague research institute in Irkutsk Oblast, in eastern Siberia, amid spreading suspicion that she was infected with plague. The announcement was reported by TBS NEWS DIG, Sankei Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun alike. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Trump told reporters at the White House that he had a call scheduled "very soon", Yomiuri Shimbun reported, and Sankei Shimbun quoted him saying the conversations would be held in the very near future, with a report possible as early as October 7. Asked about the view of US intelligence agencies, Trump said they were conducting "very close consultations", according to Sankei Shimbun. One TBS NEWS DIG report described him as saying US intelligence was holding "very deep discussions". [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Russian health authorities have announced the cause as "pneumonia of unknown cause" and deny plague infection, Sankei Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun reported. Yomiuri Shimbun, citing independent local media, said the woman fell ill, was admitted to hospital and died on October 2. Those reports also said it was reported that she appeared to have broken a test tube containing plague bacteria. [ 3 , 5 ]
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US State Department asked Russia, which it says is not providing detailed information, to fulfil its international reporting obligations, according to Sankei Shimbun. A State Department official said on October 6 that the United States has been in contact with the Russian government since October 2, and that State Department health experts have joined the talks with the Russian side. The official did not comment on the detailed cause of death. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The case sits at the intersection of public health and US-Russia relations: Washington says it has been in contact with Moscow since the death and has pressed for information, while Moscow denies plague. A confirmed plague death at a research institute would carry cross-border public health implications; the documents themselves report no confirmed lab result.
Key facts
- A woman working at a plague research institute in Irkutsk Oblast, in eastern Siberia, fell ill, was hospitalised and died on October 2, according to independent local media cited by Yomiuri Shimbun. [ 5 ]
- Russian health authorities announced the cause as "pneumonia of unknown cause" and deny plague infection. [ 3 , 5 ]
- US President Trump said on October 6 that he would hold a phone call with Russian President Putin soon over the suspected case. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said US intelligence agencies are holding "very close consultations" / "very deep discussions" and that a report could come as early as October 7. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- A US State Department official said the United States has been in contact with the Russian government since October 2, with State Department health experts taking part in the talks. [ 3 ]
- The Wall Street Journal reported that the State Department asked Russia to fulfil its international reporting obligations, according to Sankei Shimbun. [ 3 ]
- Independent local media reported the woman may have broken a test tube containing plague bacteria, Yomiuri Shimbun said. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- US President Trump said he would hold a phone call with Russian President Putin soon concerning the death of a woman at a plague research institute. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The woman worked at a plague research institute in Irkutsk Oblast and died on October 2. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Russian health authorities say the death was caused by "pneumonia of unknown cause" and deny plague infection. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Trump said US intelligence is holding detailed discussions on the matter and that a report could be released as early as October 7. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact cause of the woman's death Disputed: Russian health authorities deny plague and call it "pneumonia of unknown cause", while suspicion of plague infection has spread; the documents report no confirmed laboratory result.
- Whether the woman broke a test tube containing plague bacteria Single-source and unconfirmed: Yomiuri Shimbun attributes it to independent local media, which reported it as something said to have happened (「らしい」).
- Whether the Trump-Putin phone call has taken place and what was discussed Trump described it as scheduled for "very soon"; the documents do not say the call happened or give its content.
- The woman's name and the city where the institute is located Not reported; the documents refer only to Irkutsk Oblast.
- A US State Department official said the United States has been in contact with the Russian government since October 2. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A woman working at the plague research institute in Irkutsk Oblast falls ill, is hospitalised and dies; the United States says contacts with the Russian government begin. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Trump tells reporters at the White House he has a phone call with Putin scheduled "very soon" and says a report may come as early as October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A State Department official says Washington has been in contact with the Russian government since October 2, with health experts joining the talks, and does not comment on the exact cause of death. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports Trump's plan to speak with Putin by phone. [ 1 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the Wall Street Journal's account of the State Department urging Russia to meet international reporting obligations. [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports the death and the independent local media account of the broken test tube. [ 5 ]