Trump and Putin to discuss Siberian plague case as Russia downplays outbreak

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had scheduled a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a suspected plague case at a Siberian research institute, offering US help. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the offer, but Russia's health watchdog said Moscow was "ready to assist the US" instead. Rospotrebnadzor cited measles outbreaks in three US states, while local authorities in Siberia rejected outside help, saying the situation was under control. The WHO asked Russia for additional information on the death of researcher Darya Shipilova, whose cause was listed as "pneumonia of unknown aetiology," and assessed the risk outside Russia as "very low." The US CDC said it saw no broader threat to the United States, while the US Embassy reminded citizens of the Level 4 "do not travel" advisory for Russia. Nearly 200 people were quarantined, though 60% were released, and staff at the anti-plague institute have since been released.