Russian Officials Report No Plague Cases After Siberian Scientist's Death

Russian health authorities reported Tuesday that no plague cases were detected among contacts of a 28-year-old researcher who died Friday at a Siberian institute specializing in the disease. The woman was hospitalized with pneumonia of unknown origin before her death. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's sanitary watchdog, said extensive tests found no microorganisms related to her laboratory work in the researcher's body. No infectious diseases were recorded among institute staff in the past ten days, though a hospital in the Shelekhov district remains under quarantine. About 60% of quarantined individuals have been released, but a definitive diagnosis is still pending. The death sparked social media concern, prompting US President Donald Trump to call it a "big problem" and offer aid, which the Kremlin acknowledged while awaiting investigation results.