United States President Donald Trump has made an official statement regarding the fatal pneumonic plague incident in the Irkutsk region of the Russian Federation. Answering journalists' questions, the American leader clearly outlined Washington's position on whether this outbreak could be considered the use or leak of a biological weapon.
Washington's Official Position and US Reaction
According to the head of the White House, the United States is currently not inclined to classify the incident in the Irkutsk region as a biological weapon. "We don't think so. We'll find out soon, but we don't think so right now," Donald Trump noted while speaking with the press. At the same time, the American side emphasizes the need for a detailed investigation to establish the true causes of the tragedy and obtain comprehensive data from the Russian authorities.
Background of the Incident in the Irkutsk Region
Recall that the events of late September 2026 triggered serious international concern. According to reports, on September 25, 28-year-old Daria Shipilova, an employee of the anti-plague research institute in the Irkutsk region, accidentally broke a test tube containing a dangerous pneumonic plague pathogen. A few days later, on September 29, the woman was hospitalized with severe pneumonia symptoms and passed away in a medical facility on the night of October 2.
Parallels with COVID-19 Pandemic and Information Secrecy
Answering journalists' questions, Donald Trump compared the current communication with Moscow regarding the plague outbreak to Beijing's behavior at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American leader noted certain similarities in information policy. "China didn't say much, and Russia isn't saying much either. But they claim the situation is completely under control," Trump stressed, adding that official Moscow assures that the epidemiological situation is fully under control.
Diplomatic Pressure and Upcoming Talks
Due to the death of the laboratory employee and the lack of official data from the Kremlin, Washington has already sent an official diplomatic note to Russia demanding additional information. In addition, Donald Trump and the Russian dictator are expected to hold a telephone conversation in the near future to discuss the probable pneumonic plague case and international biological security issues.
