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President Donald Trump said on Oct. 7, 2026, that U.S. officials do not believe a reported death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague institute in Siberia was caused by a bioweapon, while acknowledging that Russia has not been fully transparent about the incident. Trump made the comments to reporters in the Oval Office as questions mounted over the circumstances of the death and Russia’s handling of the information, ABC News reported.
U.S. diplomatic pressure and formal complaint
ABC News has learned that the United States delivered a diplomatic démarche — a formal complaint — to Russian representatives urging greater transparency about the reported death at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute. A U.S. official said the démarche, transmitted within hours of the report, is classified but reminded Moscow of its obligations under international health regulations, according to ABC News.
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“We have officially requested additional information from the Russian government. We are also in official communication with other countries around the world to share information,” a State Department spokesperson told ABC News.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health alert on Tuesday saying it was aware of press reports and that the U.S. government continues to “track the situation closely.” The embassy also reiterated State Department travel guidance that advised Americans not to travel to Russia, noting the U.S. has limited ability to assist citizens there and that additional regional restrictions may be in place.
What U.S. officials said
Asked whether the suspected case represented a bioweapon, Trump said, “Well, we don’t think so. We’re going to find out soon enough, but we don’t think so,” and added that Russian authorities were saying the situation was “very much under control.”
Trump also said he had a phone call “set up” with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would touch on scrutiny of Russia’s response; the Kremlin said no such call had been scheduled. When ABC News asked the White House for clarification, the White House referred to the president's remarks on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to ABC News in Iceland, cautioned against speculation about an accidental release or any intentionally modified strain, saying it would be “irresponsible for me here to sit and speculate because we just don’t have all the information yet.” Rubio added that the State Department was tracking the situation “hour by hour” and said, “I think it’s incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world.”
Russian authorities and public statements
Russian officials have described the case as “pneumonia of an unknown cause.” The Russian health agency Rospotrebnadzor said tests showed no link between the worker’s death and her work at the institute and that “no accidents have been detected at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute while working with pathogenic microorganisms.”
Rospotrebnadzor’s regional office issued a statement on Tuesday saying a false online message had circulated about enhanced sanitary restrictions in the Irkutsk region. On Wednesday the agency issued an additional statement asserting that “the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk Region and the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov is calm,” that preventive and anti-epidemic measures have been organized in full, and that there are “no epidemic risks to the population of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Region.” The statement said, “In accordance with the International Health Regulations, Rospotrebnadzor sent information about the situation to the World Health Organization.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that official information would come from Rospotrebnadzor and accused much of the media reporting about the situation of being false. Peskov also said mutual assistance offers are welcome and downplayed suggestions that the incident represented a “major problem for Russia.”
Offers of help and next steps
U.S. officials have offered assistance to Russia. Trump reiterated a willingness to help, saying previously, “Anybody that has that kind of a problem, we’re always willing to help.” The State Department said it has requested additional information and is communicating with other countries to share what is known.
At this point, officials cited by ABC News emphasize there is incomplete information: Russian authorities have described the case as pneumonia of unknown cause and say tests show no link to the worker’s duties, while U.S. officials and diplomats are seeking more detailed data and have formally pressed Moscow for transparency.
