US monitors suspected plague outbreak in Siberia after lab worker's death

The United States is monitoring a suspected plague outbreak in Russia following the death of a lab technician in Siberia, with a White House official stating they are "aware of and monitoring the outbreak" and assessing options. Researcher Darya Shipilova (28) reportedly died after breaking a test tube containing the Yersinia pestis bacteria at a plague research institute in the Irkutsk region. Russian authorities have denied an emergency occurred, though around 200 people are reportedly in quarantine and five hospitals have closed, with residents advised to wear masks and stockpile antibiotics. The bacteria is the same one responsible for the Black Death in the 14th century. Local officials have issued conflicting statements, including a warning against travel that was later deleted, while a pro-Kremlin TV channel also removed reports of hospitalizations.