Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged Russians not to listen to rumours after a lab technician died at a plague research centre in Siberia. The official cause of death was cited as pneumonia of unknown origin.
The death has sparked speculation over the safety of Russia's high‑risk research, while President Donald Trump offered the United States aid and expertise.
Peskov said people should only follow information from Russia’s public health watchdog and that the incident had not raised “any cause for alarm.”
BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg asked Peskov for details about the U.S. offer, noting that the United States had previously monitored Russian research on the "Okuda" plague strain.
With no further data released, Russia has taken a cautious stance, emphasising that scientific work continues under strict biosafety protocols.
