Trump Team Weighs Response to Possible Plague Outbreak in Siberia

The White House is monitoring a potential outbreak of pneumonic plague in Russia's Irkutsk region following a scientist's death, with the Trump administration reviewing possible response measures, according to Axios. Local authorities imposed quarantine after 28-year-old researcher Daria Shipilova died on October 2 from severe pneumonia. Around 200 people who may have had contact with her are under observation, though regional governor Igor Kobzev says their tests are negative. Russian health officials attribute the death to "pneumonia of unknown etiology" and report no microorganisms found. However, Russian epidemiologist Mikhail Favorov, based in the US, calls the broken vial theory implausible and alleges a large-scale cover-up.