Russia welcomes US help on suspected plague case in Siberia

The Kremlin on Monday welcomed President Donald Trump’s offer to assist Russia over a suspected plague case in Siberia, while downplaying his characterization of it as a major problem, and U.S. officials urged Moscow to share more information. Russian officials, including presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, said the situation is under control and that the dangerous diagnosis has not been confirmed, with local authorities insisting they can handle it themselves. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is tracking the case "hour by hour" but lacks full information, and the CDC confirmed it is monitoring closely. The case involves a 28-year-old lab worker from an anti-plague institute in Shelekhov who died of "pneumonia of an unknown cause," though Russian health agency Rospotrebnadzor said tests found no link to her work and no accidents at the institute. Plague is treatable with antibiotics, and the U.S. sees about seven cases annually.