US Issues Formal Démarche to Russia Over 28-Year-Old Lab Worker's Death
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 5
US Issues Formal Démarche to Russia Over 28-Year-Old Lab Worker's Death
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 5
Summary
A formal US diplomatic démarche has now been sent to Russia after days of limited cooperation over the death of a 28-year-old technician at Siberia's Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.
US officials still do not know whether the worker died from pneumonic plague or another pathogen, and they are also seeking details on any possible gain-of-function modification.
Nearly 200 people are under observation and the hospital that treated the worker was quarantined, steps that deepened US concern even as officials say no travel restrictions are being added for now.
Trump said he has a call with Vladimir Putin scheduled soon, while the State Department and WHO continue pressing Moscow for data that has so far remained sparse.
Health experts say the remote location and treatable nature of pneumonic plague reduce immediate global risk, but the episode exposes weaker US and international outbreak-response capacity after funding cuts.