Moscow says it is ready to arrange a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump about the death of an employee at an Irkutsk anti-plague institute. The cause of her death on Oct. 2 remains unknown, and Russian authorities say there is no epidemic risk.
Trump told reporters he expected to speak with Putin soon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged Moscow to provide more information, and the U.S. Embassy in Russia told CBS News it had asked Russian authorities for details. No date has been set for a call.
Darya Shipilova, 28, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, more than 2,500 miles east of Moscow. Russian authorities have said she died of pneumonia of unknown origin. Early media reports suggested she may have contracted pneumonic plague after a lab accident, but officials have not confirmed that account.
Rospotrebnadzor said about 200 people who had contact with Shipilova were screened and none had tested positive for plague. The agency said it had released 90% of those held for monitoring and completed nearly 5,000 laboratory tests, with no dangerous pathogens detected. It said it was easing precautionary measures in the Irkutsk region.
The World Health Organization has asked Russia for more information about the death. Russia's health watchdog said it had provided further details. No confirmed plague outbreak or secondary cases have been reported by authorities.