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Washington, Agencies: Russia’s health agency yesterday ruled out any “epidemiological threat” to the residents of Irkutsk and the surrounding region in Siberia, following repeated calls for greater transparency after the death of a laboratory employee at an institute specializing in plague research. The public health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, stated that medical monitoring of more than 90% of individuals who had contact with the woman had been completed, noting that “no health problems related to an infectious disease have been detected,” while affirming that “there is no epidemiological threat to the residents of Irkutsk and its region.”

Russia warned that most media reports on the epidemiological situation were “false,” amid reports of a second suspected case of plague in Siberia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists that “the media is reporting a great deal, and the vast majority of what is published regarding this situation is false information,” adding that he had “no information” regarding a U.S. request to share data on reports of a laboratory employee’s death from plague.

The European Union also called on Russia yesterday to “provide transparent and timely reports” regarding the employee’s death. EU spokesperson Eva Harentseva said, “We are following the situation very closely.”

For its part, China confirmed it is cooperating with Russia regarding the suspected case of pneumonic plague. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “China and Russia maintain close communication and cooperation to prevent and control infectious diseases, including pneumonic plague,” according to Bloomberg News.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is facing difficulties in obtaining clear answers, as the employee’s death sparked immediate concern in Washington. A well-informed source told CNN that the United States is considering issuing a formal diplomatic note, known as a “démarche,” to Russia to demand more information. A U.S. State Department official said that officials have been in contact with the Russian government since Friday, including communications between the State Department’s health experts and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

U.S. officials are seeking details on whether the pathogen underwent any modifications—a process known as “gain of function”—as such a process could dramatically alter the nature of the U.S. and international response. A U.S. official stated, “There is one thing we are quite certain of: the Russians will act as the Chinese did during the COVID crisis; they will not be transparent or cooperative in disclosing information.”