Trump offers US help after reported plague outbreak near Irkutsk
US President Donald Trump said the US is closely monitoring reports of a possible plague outbreak in Russia's Irkutsk region and offered assistance, though he has not communicated directly with Moscow. Trump commented on Monday, October 5, expressing regret over the situation and pledging US help if needed. He noted Russian authorities describe the case as pneumonia, adding that microbes have become stronger, but the US is ready to assist anyone facing such problems. The reports stem from the death of a 28-year-old researcher from Irkutsk's anti-plague institute, with Russian authorities citing "pneumonia of unknown etiology." About 200 people were quarantined, though no secondary cases were confirmed. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have tightened border controls.