Donald Trump is due to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the death of a laboratory worker in Russia, amid concerns that the person may have been infected with pneumonic plague.
The circumstances surrounding the death have not been set out in the available information. However, fears about a possible case of pneumonic plague have led to calls for Russia to provide more transparency about what happened.
The planned discussion between Mr Trump and Mr Putin is expected to focus on the worker’s death and the concerns raised by the possibility of plague. The available material does not indicate when the conversation will take place or what information the Russian authorities have released about the suspected illness.
Pneumonic plague is the form of plague that affects the lungs. The supplied information does not confirm that the laboratory worker died from the disease, and no diagnosis or official finding has been given.
The latest known position is that questions remain over the cause of death, while pressure is growing for further information from Russia. Mr Trump’s planned conversation with Mr Putin could provide an opportunity to seek clarification, although no details of any response or outcome are available.
