Trump to Speak with Putin Soon Amid Reports of Suspected Plague Death in Russia

<p>President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin "very soon" as his administration monitors reports of a <a href="https://foxnews.com/world/us-monitoring-suspected-fatal-pneumonic-plague-case-russia-state-department-official-says" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">suspected pneumonic plague</a> death in Siberia. This situation has led to a U.S. health alert and increased health precautions in several countries <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/world-regions/russia" rel="noopener" target="_blank">bordering Russia</a>.</p><p>Trump announced the upcoming call while responding to questions from reporters. When asked if he had discussed the situation with Putin, he confirmed a call was scheduled, saying, "I have a call scheduled, yup." He did not specify when the call would occur but indicated it would be "very soon." </p><p>During the briefing, Trump mentioned that the administration was engaged in "very deep discussions" regarding the reports and the assessments from <a href="https://foxnews.com/world/russian-bio-leak-secrecy-follows-chernobyl-playbook-ex-cia-officer-warns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. intelligence agencies</a>.</p><p>The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert on Tuesday, acknowledging press reports from Russia's Irkutsk region about a "suspected pneumonic plague resulting in the death of an individual," along with associated quarantine measures and hospital closures. The embassy stated, "We continue to track the situation closely." </p><p>A State Department spokesman informed Fox News Digital that the department, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other interagency partners, is "closely monitoring the fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague" in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast. The spokesman emphasized that "many details remain unconfirmed" and urged Moscow to provide clearer information. "We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly," the spokesman added.</p><p>The health alert advised Americans in the area to follow local health guidance, avoid affected medical facilities, and seek medical care if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms. Those who have traveled to areas experiencing an outbreak were advised to monitor their health for 14 days.</p><p>The existing Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Russia remains unchanged, with the embassy reiterating that Americans currently in Russia should depart due to limited U.S. government assistance capabilities, particularly outside Moscow.</p><p>Countries bordering Russia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, are implementing enhanced health and sanitary measures in response to the reports.</p><p>A 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East died last week from pneumonia of undetermined origin, according to Russian authorities. Russia has not confirmed that the woman died of plague and stated that testing found no microorganisms linked to her work. Russian officials informed the WHO that her contacts tested negative for dangerous infectious pathogens, and the WHO has assessed the risk to the general population as low.</p><p>The CDC is also closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with other U.S. government agencies as more information becomes available. The agency indicated that there is currently no evidence of a broader threat to the United States.</p><p>Pneumonic plague is a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, which can spread through respiratory droplets during close contact and can progress rapidly if untreated. It can be effectively treated with antibiotics, especially when identified early.</p><p>U.S. officials are continuing to seek more information about the incident in Irkutsk and whether it poses any wider threat. Trump suggested that his administration may have more updates as soon as Wednesday, stating, "We'll be able to report about it probably tomorrow." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.</p>