US watches Russia after plague lab worker infection

The United States is closely monitoring a suspected plague infection involving a laboratory worker in Russia amid concerns that the disease may have spread internally, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said, while stressing that Washington's information on the case is based on details provided by Russian officials. Rubio made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for a European visit. He said the US was aware of the case through information provided by Russian officials and was closely watching the situation over concerns that the infection could have spread internally. Rubio said the information available to Washington indicated that a worker at a Russian laboratory had been infected and that there was concern the infection may have spread within the facility. He also indicated that quarantine measures had been taken, although he did not provide details about the number of people affected or whether any internal transmission had been confirmed. The case involves a worker at Russia's Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute who died following pneumonia of unknown origin, prompting quarantine and medical monitoring of her contacts. Russian authorities have not confirmed plague as the cause of death, have denied evidence of an accident involving dangerous pathogens, and report no new cases among institute staff.