Donald Trump says he has offered Vladimir Putin help after reports claimed a woman in Russia may have died of pneumonic plague. The US President said he was watching the situation closely while appearing to confuse the possible cause of Daria Shipilova's death.
Unconfirmed media reports suggest she might have died of pneumonic plague, which is a less common but severe form of plague that can spread from person to person. Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House: "It's a rough disease. You know, that's a disease we used to be able to control, but somehow those microbes have gotten stronger and smarter. They're like an army. Even with great advancement, the germs have really become relatively stronger than they were, and things that used to work on pneumonia don't work as well anymore."
What Is Pneumonic Plague?
Pneumonic plague is a rare and deadly lung infection. It is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and considered by health experts as the most dangerous form of the infection. It passes directly from person to person, spread when someone coughs or sneezes. Yersinia pestis is found in small mammals and fleas. The World Health Organisation describes pneumonic plague as a less common but severe form of plague.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs and is normally caused by an infection. Symptoms include a cough, high temperature, fatigue and an aching body. Most people recover in two to four weeks, according to the NHS, but hospital treatment may be needed for some people.
Lab Worker's Death Under Investigation
Ms Shipilova, who was 28, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East in Irkutsk, Siberia. A state TV station in Irkutsk reported on Monday that she died last week in a hospital in Shelekhov, a town just outside Irkutsk.
Mayor Maxim Modin said the hospital has been placed under quarantine, is no longer admitting or discharging patients and its laboratory has halted carrying out routine tests. He said the hospital's outpatient department was operating as usual.
Independent local news outlet Lyudi Baikala quoted sources it did not identify as saying lab technician Ms Shipilova died from pneumonic plague and several Irkutsk hospitals were placed under quarantine. Asked on Monday to comment on the case, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the public and media should follow official statements from Russia's consumer watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, rather than "rumours or speculation".
Official Response and US Reaction
Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, flew to Irkutsk and met with Governor Igor Kobzev and other officials on Friday. Mr Kobzev said everyone who came into contact with Ms Shipilova was under medical supervision. He didn't identify the infection but said it was a suspected case of "a particularly dangerous infection". He added that Rospotrebnadzor was "implementing a full range of anti-epidemic measures".
On Sunday, Rospotrebnadzor said the woman was diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown aetiology", or origin and said "extensive" testing found "no microorganisms associated with the patient's professional activities". The agency said it didn't uncover any incidents at the institute "involving pathogenic microorganisms", but two people who were in contact with Ms Shipilova tested positive for a virus that causes the common cold and two others for COVID-19.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday he didn't think there was cause for alarm, but the United States was watching the case closely, aware that "it could spread quickly" despite the quarantine and other public health measures.
