The US Embassy in Moscow has issued a health alert following the reported death of a laboratory worker in Russia.
The worker was employed at an anti-plague institute in the Irkutsk region; her death has sparked concern over a possible plague outbreak.
However, Russian and international health authorities have not confirmed an active plague outbreak in Irkutsk.
The Russia plague health alert has nevertheless prompted the US Embassy to warn Americans in the country.
The embassy advised US citizens in the affected area to follow local health instructions; it also urged them to avoid affected facilities.
“U.S. citizens in the area should follow the guidance of local health authorities, avoid affected facilities, and seek medical care promptly if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms,” the embassy said.
The US government also repeated its advice for Americans to leave Russia, It cited ongoing security concerns and limited assistance for citizens outside Moscow.
The State Department has maintained a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for Russia since January 2022.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for more information from Russia.
President Donald Trump also said he planned to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The State Department reportedly sent a formal diplomatic request seeking clarification from Moscow.
The World Health Organization said no plague cases had been recorded in Irkutsk.
However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for “timely, complete and transparent information sharing.”
Russian authorities have rejected reports suggesting an active public health crisis.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused some media outlets of spreading false information about the incident.
Peskov said Russia had informed the WHO about the laboratory worker’s death through established channels.
He urged people to rely on information from Russia’s consumer health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor.
For now, questions remain about the cause of the laboratory worker’s death.
