Russia Monitors 200 After Lab Worker Death in Siberia; White House Weighs Response

Nearly 200 people are under medical observation in Russia's Irkutsk region after a lab worker at an anti-plague institute died, though Russian authorities have not confirmed the cause or a reported test tube accident. The woman was hospitalized with severe pneumonia and died, with local reports suggesting possible plague exposure, but Russia's health watchdog says tests found no work-related microorganisms and those monitored show no symptoms. The case has drawn U.S. attention, with a Trump administration official telling Axios that the White House is monitoring the situation and "assessing options."