US Embassy Warns Americans to Leave Russia After Suspected Plague Death in Siberia

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert after a suspected plague death in Siberia, reiterating its advisory for Americans to leave Russia. The warning follows the death of a 28-year-old lab technician from unknown pneumonia. The technician, Darya Shipilova, reportedly broke a test tube containing the plague bacterium at a research institute in Irkutsk. Russian authorities have not confirmed she had the plague, and around 200 people are reportedly in quarantine with five hospitals closed as a precaution. The U.S. says it is monitoring the situation, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has requested more information from Russia. The WHO reports no plague cases in Irkutsk but urges full transparency, while Russian officials deny a health crisis.