[UPDATE] Kremlin says it is open to a Trump-Putin call on a Siberian plague-lab worker's death, but no call is scheduled
Russia says none of 200 screened contacts had plague and is easing precautions; the WHO is still pressing Moscow for the cause.
Russia says it is open to scheduling a call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin "promptly" about the death of lab worker Darya Shipilova, 28, on Friday, Oct. 2, but none has been set. Trump said U.S. officials do not think the death is linked to a bioweapon. The U.S. has sent Moscow a démarche (a formal diplomatic demand for information). Russia's tests. Russia screened 200 of her contacts for plague and found none. About 5,000 lab tests on contacts found no dangerous pathogens, and 90% of quarantined contacts have been released. The official cause is still pneumonia of unknown origin. Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokesman, Russia) said "the vast majority of what the media are reporting about this situation is false information." The WHO. It wants the cause, the pathogen that set off Russia's precautions, and clarity on reports that a second employee has pneumonia. What next. The WHO is waiting for Russia to hand over the medical evidence through its formal verification process under the International Health Regulations (the treaty rules for reporting outbreaks).
PREVIOUSLY
- Oct. 2 — Darya Shipilova, 28, a worker at Siberia's Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, more than 2,500 miles from Moscow, died; Russia listed pneumonia of undetermined origin.
- By Oct. 6 — U.S. officials were monitoring it as a suspected pneumonic plague death and Trump offered help; Russia quarantined a hospital and watched nearly 200 contacts.
- By Oct. 7 — Trump said he would call Putin; Russia said tests had not linked the death to plague, and the State Department reissued its Level 4 do-not-travel warning.