Trump to call Putin over Siberia plague lab worker's death

· Health · Russia · United States

President Trump said he will speak with Russia's President Putin about the death of a plague laboratory worker in Siberia, as fears that pneumonic plague caused the death prompted calls for more transparency from Russia. The US and the UN have urged Moscow to provide more information. The WHO said it lacks the full picture from Russia and wants details to conduct a full risk assessment. Nearly 200 contacts were placed under medical observation in the Irkutsk region.

Why it matters：Cross-border concern over the case shows how quickly a suspected infectious disease can become a global health-security issue.

Key points

  • Trump said he will speak with Putin about the case.
  • The US and UN urged Russia to be more transparent.
  • The WHO said it lacks the full picture from Russia.

Sources (original reporting)

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