Trump: Plague leak is big problem for Russia
President Donald Trump said a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia is a "big problem" for the country, warning that germs are becoming stronger after a laboratory worker died from the disease. The worker, Darya Shipilova, 28, died after reportedly breaking a test tube containing the plague pathogen at an anti-plague institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region. Nearly 200 contacts have been quarantined for three weeks, and Russian authorities face accusations of a cover-up after pro-Kremlin outlets deleted related posts. Trump offered US assistance, saying "we'll help" anyone with such a problem, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a cause for focus, not alarm. The Shelekhov hospital declared quarantine on Oct 2, with regional travel warnings and event cancellations, though Rospotrebnadzor said no work-related microorganisms were found on the deceased.