US monitoring death at Siberian plague research institute, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the United States is monitoring the recent death at the Irkutsk Plague Research Institute in Siberia, but said the incident does not warrant concern or panic, citing limited travel between the US and Russia.

Rubio made his remarks in response to a journalist's question while en route to Iceland, stating: "I do not believe there is cause for concern or panic," when commenting on the death at the Russian institute.

Russian authorities imposed a quarantine on dozens of people at the Irkutsk Plague Research Institute after a laboratory worker died.

Reports indicate the worker died after contracting an infection, while Russian sources said the cause of death was pneumonia.

Rubio said the United States is following the case, and Reuters also quoted the US Secretary of State as noting that travel between the US and Russia remains limited.

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Washington's monitoring comes amid health measures taken by Russian authorities at the institute following the worker's death and the imposition of quarantine on dozens of people.