Trump says U.S. does not think Russian plague lab death was a bioweapon

President Donald Trump on July 10, 2026, said the United States does not believe a Russian laboratory worker’s death was the result of a bioweapon, but promised a swift investigation.

The 28‑year‑old worker, identified as Darya Shipilova, died after falling ill at the Irkutsk Anti‑Plague Research Institute in Siberia. Her death sparked speculation that the pneumonic plague strain she handled might have been engineered for hostile use.

“Well, we don’t think so. We’re going to find out soon enough, but we don’t think so,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office briefing.

Trump added that, according to U.S. officials, Russia has shared limited information and that “if you listen to them, it’s under control.” He drew a parallel to early COVID‑19 reporting, noting, “China didn’t say much, and Russia is not saying much either. But they do say they have it very much under control.”

The White House said a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was being arranged to discuss the case, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later denied any scheduled phone conversation. Peskov also asserted that Russia had informed the World Health Organization in accordance with protocol and criticized media reports as false.

The World Health Organization’s director‑general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has asked Moscow for clarification on reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause, while the U.S. State Department formally requested additional details on the plague scare.

Experts cited in media coverage warned that the Irkutsk region was historically involved in Soviet biological‑weapon research, noting past attempts to create antibiotic‑resistant plague strains. Some scientists suggested the lockdown and lack of immediate antibiotic efficacy could point to a modified pathogen, though no conclusive evidence has been presented.

U.S. officials said they are monitoring the situation closely and expect further data from Russian health authorities in the coming days, while Trump emphasized that the United States stands ready to assist Russia in containing any outbreak.