Trump Closely Monitors Suspected Black Death Leak in Russia After Fatal Incident

US President Donald Trump said he is monitoring the situation "very, neutrally, closely" regarding a suspected plague pathogen leak incident in Russia.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump added, "I just heard about that news, and we will help Russia to the maximum extent possible."

President Trump also noted that "germs have become relatively much stronger than before" and that "this incident is a big problem for Russia."

Earlier, according to US media outlets like CNN, a serious accident occurred on September 25 at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia, Russia, where a 28-year-old female researcher accidentally broke a test tube containing the plague pathogen.

Four days after breaking the vial, on September 29, the woman showed symptoms of severe pneumonia, was hospitalized, and died earlier this month.

Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's state consumer rights and human well-being watchdog responsible for infectious diseases, announced on October 4 that the female researcher died after being diagnosed with "pneumonia of unknown origin."

While Russian authorities are currently investigating to determine the exact type of pathogen leaked, they are reportedly monitoring and managing about 200 people placed under quarantine at the hospital where the woman was treated.

The European Commission also stated that it has verified the related reports and is closely monitoring the situation.

The plague is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, commonly known as the "Black Death."

It causes sudden symptoms such as fever and chills, and depending on its clinical manifestations, it is largely divided into three forms: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague.

Pneumonic plague is one of the three forms caused by the plague bacterium. Unlike other forms of plague transmitted through contact with fleas or animals, it can spread from person to person through microscopic respiratory droplets.

While its fatality rate is high, it can be effectively treated with antibiotics, according to Euronews.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.