# Trump Says Russia Plague Incident Is Not a Bioweapon, Plans Putin Call

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/27595
Published: 2026-10-07T18:41:33.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-07T18:41:33.000Z
Section: Regulation

> Nearly 200 people were placed under medical observation in Irkutsk after a laboratory worker died following suspected plague exposure.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States does not believe a suspected plague incident in Russia involved a bioweapon, while planning a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day.

"We don't think so," Trump said when asked whether the incident was a bioweapon. He added that the situation appeared to be under control but said, "We're going to find out soon enough."

Nearly 200 people were placed under medical observation earlier this week in Russia's Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia after a female worker at an anti-plague research institute fell ill and died.

Trump said the call with Putin was scheduled for Wednesday, which is Putin's 74th birthday. Trump had previously indicated that the plague-related incident would be a focus of the conversation.

The developments add a public-health issue to the agenda for the planned discussion between the two presidents.