US monitors Siberia flights after plague reports

The United States is monitoring passengers on flights from Siberia amid reports of a possible plague infection in Russia, though the CDC considers the threat to the U.S. "extremely low." A medical station has been set up at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, which receives most flights from the region. CDC Director Erica Schwartz announced the medical facility at JFK. The World Health Organization is also tracking the situation and has requested details from Russian officials about a possible second case of pneumonia of unknown origin linked to a research center. The Trump administration stated in a diplomatic letter that Russia's lack of details violates its international health obligations. Reports say that on September 25, 2026, a 28-year-old lab worker, Daria Shipilova, broke a vial containing the pneumonic plague pathogen at an Irkutsk research center. She later died of pneumonia of unknown cause, and about 200 contacts were isolated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said information from Russia remains limited, while President Trump has offered U.S. assistance.