US monitoring death at Siberian plague research institute, says Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the United States is monitoring the recent death at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia. However, he ruled out any cause for concern or panic, citing the limited travel between the United States and Russia.

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

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

Reports indicate that 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 reported his confirmation that travel between the United States and Russia remains limited.

View the post on X

Washington's monitoring comes as Russian authorities implement health measures at the institute, including quarantining dozens of people after the worker's death.