US officials monitor Russia lab worker death after plague exposure

Former White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx called the death of a Russian lab researcher from a potential pneumonic plague exposure "concerning," as U.S. federal agencies monitor reports of hundreds quarantined in eastern Russia. Birx noted the researcher's travel after exposure as a potential transmission risk, since pneumonic plague spreads person-to-person via respiratory droplets. Russian authorities have isolated at least 197 contacts, with more than 100 hospitalized, following the death of technician Darya Shipilova, who reportedly broke a test tube containing Yersinia pestis on September 25. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the situation warrants focus but not alarm, while U.S. officials urged Moscow to share accurate information openly. Russian authorities have not confirmed the plague diagnosis, and some local experts have questioned the official explanation.