Things are looking pretty intense on the world stage right now. President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that he has a call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin to happen "very soon." The timing? It’s not a coincidence. The U.S. is currently on high alert over reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death linked to an anti-plague research laboratory in Siberia.
What is actually going on?
An employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, recently died after coming down with pneumonia. While Russian authorities are claiming that initial tests didn't find any specific pathogens linked to her work, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow isn't taking chances. They’ve issued a health alert for Americans in the area, warning them to avoid local medical facilities and watch for any respiratory symptoms.
Several countries bordering Russia—including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—are already rolling out enhanced health precautions. Meanwhile, the CDC is monitoring the situation, though they’ve noted there’s no immediate threat to the U.S. at this time.
What this means for you
If you have plans to travel to Russia, the State Department still has a "Do Not Travel" advisory in effect. For everyone else, it’s mostly a waiting game. Trump mentioned that the administration is in "very deep discussions" regarding the intel they've gathered, and we might get more clarity as early as Wednesday. Real talk: the situation is still evolving, and the U.S. is pushing Moscow to be transparent with the data. Pneumonic plague is serious, but it is treatable with antibiotics if caught early, so don't let the vibes get too dark just yet.
