Russia’s health authorities told the World Health Organization that no plague case had recently been registered in the Irkutsk region, no high-threat pathogens had been detected among identified contacts and medical observation of all contacts had ended. The WHO is seeking clarification of what caused the fatal pneumonia, which pathogen prompted preventive measures and reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.
The US has sent Moscow a formal diplomatic request for more information. President Donald Trump said he has a call scheduled with Vladimir Putin “very soon” about the suspected case, though the Kremlin said no call had yet been agreed. The CDC is monitoring the reports and says there is no indication of a broader threat to the US.