Trump said he would be able to report on his talks with Putin "probably" on Thursday, adding that "so far we are in very deep discussions." The 28-year-old victim, named in Russian media as Darya Shipilova, was working at the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk. Russian officials say they are investigating the cause of her death and that those who came into contact with her have all tested negative. Unconfirmed reports suggest she became ill after breaking a test tube containing the pathogen.
Pneumonic plague, which has a very short incubation period of sometimes just 24 hours, can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. People can be infected through flea bites, contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials, or inhalation of respiratory particles. Symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing, often with blood-tainted phlegm.
Reports first emerged on Friday of almost 200 people being placed under observation in Siberia's Irkutsk region following the death. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for transparency from Russia. "Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public health risks," he said.