The secretary of state said Washington is monitoring reports of an infection in an employee of an anti-plague institute and is relying on information from Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reports of an infection in an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East were not a cause for serious alarm. Washington is nevertheless watching developments closely, he told reporters. His remarks were reported by TASS.
Rubio said the United States was relying on information provided by Russia about an infection in a laboratory employee. He noted that concerns over possible spread inside the institution had led Russian authorities to introduce quarantine measures. Monitoring the situation was warranted, he said, even though he did not consider it a reason for alarm.
US President Donald Trump earlier said Washington was ready to help Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the public to follow official statements from Russian agencies.