WHO wants more answers from Russia about lab worker's death, as pneumonic plague concerns linger

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a potential case of plague at a Siberian research institute. The White House reported that the call between the two leaders is expected to occur "very soon." Health officials are currently investigating the death of an employee at the anti-plague institute, which they have connected to pneumonia of an unknown origin.

Trump stated that the U.S. intelligence community is actively involved in discussions about the case and that a report on the matter is likely to be released the following day. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that the risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Russia is minimal, stating that they are coordinating with Russian authorities after a report of the woman's death surfaced last week at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.

Earlier in the day, Trump expressed willingness to assist Russia in addressing the situation, describing the disease as "rough" and asserting that it has become more formidable due to the evolution of the microorganisms. The call comes as the Trump administration prepares to address a deadline on October 18 to determine whether to sanction Russian entities in accordance with the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, a law Trump signed into law on September 18.

The administration is expected to receive a list of potential targets for sanctions from Ukraine, which has proposed a set of Russian companies, vessels, and individuals to be targeted.