Trump’s comments ” follows a question about the reported death of Darya Shipilova, who was potentially exposed to plague bacteria while working at the Siberian Anti-Plague Research Institute.
- There has been no official confirmation that Shipilova’s death was due to pneumonic plague, but five area hospitals and dozens of institute employees were quarantined as a precaution.
- Russian health authorities say Shipilova died of “pneumonia of unknown etiology” and that tests revealed no pathogens linked to her work.
- No additional deaths or illnesses related to the incident have been reported.
What they say: “We just heard about it,” Trump told reporters Monday.
- “We will help them,” Trump said. “We will help them as much as possible.”
- Trump said the disease used to be more controllable, but “the microbes and the germs have gotten stronger.”
- The president appears to be referring to antimicrobial resistance, but pneumonic plague itself remains treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed early.
Between the lines: The White House is monitoring the outbreak, Axios found, with the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department also on alert.
Go further: How Pneumonic Plague Spreads, and How It Does or Does Not Look Like COVID
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